WESTLAKE VILLAGE – A classic pitcher’s duel took place in Westlake Village on Tuesday.
El Toro’s Sam Glick and Oaks Christian’s Dane Morrow were in complete control.
However, El Toro was able to push across a single run in the sixth inning for a 1-0 victory in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 second-round baseball game.
“It was a great ballgame,” Oaks Christian coach Tim Penprase said.
El Toro moves onto Friday’s quarterfinals and hosts West Ranch.
The Chargers (25-5) won their 14th consecutive game and have held opponents to two runs or fewer in 11 of those contests.
The left-handed Glick threw a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and three walks.
“It felt good today,” Glick said. “I could tell I felt good early in the bullpen. I was pounding the zone and had good movement on my two seam.”
Morrow was nearly as good.
The hard throwing right-hander also went seven innings and gave up the one run on five hits with four strikeouts, a walk and three hit batters.
The only run came in the sixth when Morrow hit leadoff batter Josh Zamora. Gavin Garcia sacrificed Zamora to second base and Matt Kincade came through with a solid single to right-center field.
El Toro left five runners on base in the first four innings. The Chargers had runners on in every inning except the seventh.
Morrow was able to squirm out of some jams.
“Their guy made pitches when he had to,” El Toro coach Mike Gonzales said.
Oaks Christian (19-10) had a golden opportunity in the fourth inning. Freshman Rhylan Thomas walked and Adam Kerner singled to left. However, Noah Prewett grounded into a double play and Jack Aldrich struck out.
“We talked about bunting right there,” Penprase said. “We had one of our best hitters up. An All-America third baseman. We had faith in him. We thought we could get a couple runs right there. Their pitcher made some pitches to get us out.”
Oaks Christian only had one base runner the rest of the way.
Glick also received a huge defensive play from center fielder Kenny Oyama who laid out in the gap to take away a leadoff double from Prewett in the seventh.
“Sam was lights out today,” Gonzales said. “It was a great performance. He threw a lot of strikes. He really competed.”
Phil Quartararo singled and stole two bases for Oaks Christian, which lost its fifth one-run game.
