Newbury Oaks Streaking Into State Tournament : American Legion baseball: Hard-hitting Area 6 champion seeks to extend string of 27 wins in first-round game against Gahr.
The Newbury Oaks American Legion baseball team, having emerged unscathed during last week’s Area 6 tournament, will put its 27-game winning streak on the line against Gahr of Cerritos in the first round of the state tournament today at 9 a.m. in Yountville.
The winner and runner-up of the six-team double-elimination tournament will advance to regional tournaments Aug. 19-23. The Legion World Series will be played in Fargo, N.D., Aug. 26-30.
Seven members of this year’s Newbury Oaks team were members of the Conejo A team that finished third in last year’s state tournament.
Newbury Oaks (27-1), the District 16 champion, has not lost a game since its season opener against Camarillo A, but the team does not appear to be feeling much pressure about the streak.
“We’re pretty confident about the way we’re playing right now,†right fielder Jamal Nichols said. “We don’t worry about the streak. We know that a team is going to have to play really well to beat us.â€
Shortstop David Lamb, who was 12 for 19 with five doubles and seven runs batted in during the Area 6 tournament at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium, concurred.
“I think we’ve done a pretty good job about putting the streak behind us,†Lamb said. “We’re just concentrating on playing our game.â€
Newbury Oaks’ game revolves around hitting. Lots of hitting.
The team batted .430, had a slugging percentage of .616 and outscored the opposition, 46-20, in four games at the area tournament.
Lamb, catcher Robert Fick (10 for 19, six RBIs) and first baseman Trent Martin (seven for 17, five RBIs) led the Newbury Oaks onslaught, which was so overpowering that second baseman Jeff Olin had the team’s lowest batting average among starters at .357. Third baseman Ryan Kritscher was named most valuable player of the area tournament.
Adam West (9-1) will start against Gahr with fellow left-hander Tighe Curran (7-0) tentatively slated to start Newbury Oaks’ second game Sunday.
Gahr (18-2) has won 14 games in a row, including a victory over El Segundo for the Area 4 championship.
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