Valuable Valencia Helps Camarillo Roar Past Rio Mesa

Calling Garrett Valencia of Camarillo High “fiery” might be an understatement.

“I’m emotional,” he said. “I take that from football. Some of the guys are kind of timid, kind of soft. We bring the raucous to them.”

Roaring after each strikeout, Valencia pitched five effective innings of relief and also contributed a two-run home run to help Camarillo defeat rival Rio Mesa, 14-7, in a Pacific View League showdown Monday in Oxnard.

Camarillo (11-2, 5-1 in league play) took advantage of 18 hits and seven Rio Mesa errors to move two games ahead of the Spartans (9-4, 3-3). It was the Scorpions’ second victory in recent weeks over Pepperdine-bound pitcher Greg Ramirez (4-2).

Camarillo took an 8-0 lead. Rio Mesa closed to 8-5, then Eric Foster hit a two-run home run for the Scorpions in the fourth inning, and the Spartans’ defense continued to falter.

Mark Hensley had four hits and two runs batted in, with Foster and Spencer Wyman adding three hits apiece for Camarillo.

Valencia held Rio Mesa to three runs in the final five innings, striking out four. The quarterback for Camarillo’s football team also provides decisive leadership in baseball.

“He wants to win on every pitch,” said Coach Scott Cline of Camarillo.

Camarillo has been beating teams with speed. Kevin Brown, Justin Collins and Hensley--the Nos. 9, 1 and 2 hitters, have combined to steal 31 bases in 33 attempts.

Rio Mesa was missing first baseman Ernie Borjas, who sat out because of disciplinary reasons, and third baseman Richard Martinez, who couldn’t play defense because of a shoulder injury.