CLC Youth team siezes lead in ORD Church League

The Church of Living Christ crowd pulled to the front of the Ojai Recreation Department Church League pack last Thursday. The CLC youth team led the way, with Valley Community Foursquare, Ojai Valley Baptist, and St. Thomas Aquinas hot on their heels.

The CLC youth team put in decisive wins over both the Baptist squad and CLC No. 2.

In their victory over the No. 2 squad, the youth team showed their composure and tenacity, when down by three after two innings, the youth squad pecked away at the lead with a double by Rick Vogel to come within one. With a strong defense, the youth team held No. 2 scoreless for the next two innings, while racking up 13 in the remaining innings. CLC No. 2 snagged one more run in the bottom of five, but were not able to catch the youth squad. The final score was CLC Youth 17, CLC No. 2, 6.

In the hot game of the night, Valley Community Foursquare was matched against Ojai Valley Baptist. For the first two innings Foursquare and the Baptist crew were evenly matched, with Foursquare's Joe Oliver slamming a solo home run to contribute to their three runs scored. Baptist Thad Metz responded, pounding a three-run home run to even the score. Over the next two innings, Valley Foursquare pulled ahead by two.

The lead changed in the bottom of six with the Baptist going up by one. With the score 8-7, Baptists, Foursquare's Felix Morales came through with a center field double, and scored to tie the game. The final out came with a spectacular catch made by Baptist Jesse Clark at third base to hold on to the tie.

The final score was Valley Community Foursquare 8, Ojai Valley Baptist 8.

St. Thomas Aquinas pulled ahead by two in the early innings against CLC No. 1, aided by a center field home run with three RBIs. CLC No. 1 racked up a run scored in the top of four with Barbara Keilty driving in teammate Brian. Two more runs were scored by the No. 1 team in the top of six by the doubling Jesse Klukow.

Up by one going into the seventh, CLC No. 1 broke it open with six runs scored, two of which came in on a triple by Brian Taylor. In their last at bat, St. Thomas rallied with three runs but weren't able to catch the CLC team. The final score was CLC No. 1, 12, St. Thomas 8.

Current Church League standings:
· Church of Living Christ Youth, 3-0
· Church of Living Christ No. 1, 2-0
· Church of Living Christ No. 2, 1-1
· Valley Community Foursquare, 0-1-1
· Ojai Valley Baptist Church, 0-1-2
· St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 0-2

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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