Box Score
May 14, 2006
Baseball:
Vikings roll to 8-1 win over Oxnard to advance to Super Regionals
Sophomore first baseman Mike Coladonato (Rancho Alamitos HS) went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and sophomore starting pitcher Tommy Peale (Millikan HS) allowed one run over eight innings to lead the Long Beach City College baseball team to a 8-1 win over Oxnard College in Game 2 of the Southern California Regional Playoffs Sunday afternoon at Joe Hicks Memorial Field.
With the win, the fourth-seeded Vikings swept the best-of-three series 2-0 from No. 14 Oxnard and advance to next weekend’s Southern California Super Regional tournament.
Coladonato had a big day at the plate and helped the Vikings get on the board first in the top of the third inning (LBCC was the designated visiting team).
Freshman left fielder A.J. Bancroft (Lakewood HS) and Peale reached base with singles. Coladonato then drove in both runners with a triple to the right-center field gap and came in to score himself when second baseman Michael Minjares’ throw to third sailed into the LBCC dugout.
The score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the seventh. Peale was cruising through the Oxnard lineup before the Condors finally broke up the shutout. Right fielder Richard Amaro drew a leadoff walk and came in to score two batters later on a double by left fielder Cody Nash.
The Vikings opened the game up in the top of the eighth, posting two runs. Coladonato walked and stole second base. Freshman catcher Derek Junghanel (Millikan HS) blooped a single down the right-field line to bring in Coladonato. Sophomore Jaime Munoz (Bell HS) followed that with a triple to right to bring in Junghanel and give Long Beach a commanding 5-1 lead.
The game turned into a blowout in the ninth. Bancroft had a RBI single, Coladonato drove in his third run of the game with a double, and freshman right fielder Daniel Prieto came in to score on a wild pitch to close out the scoring.
Peale kept his perfect record intact and improved to a state-best 14-0 on the season. He struck out six, walked one, and scattered four hits in the win. Sophomore Shane Minor closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning.
Oxnard starter Curtis Leavitt earned the loss (3-5) despite striking out 10 LBCC batters. He allowed nine hits and five runs (four earned) over seven and two-thirds innings. Oxnard closes its season with a 30-15 overall record.
With the win, the Vikings improved to 35-9 overall and 22-1 at home this season.
The Vikings will travel to No. 2 Riverside Community College for a four-team, double-elimination Super Regional tournament. LBCC will face L.A. Pierce at 11 a.m. on Friday, with Riverside taking on Rio Hondo in the other opening round game.
The losers will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday at a site to be determined, while the winners play 11 a.m. at RCC's Evans Sports Complex. The winner of the 10 a.m. game will play the loser of the 11 a.m. at 3 p.m. Then on Sunday the two remaining teams will square off at 11 a.m.
Cypress will host the other Supr Regional, which also includes Santa Ana, Bakersfield and Grossmont.
The winner of each Super Regional advances to the state championships on May 27-29 in Fresno.
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