Chargers Strike Out in Valley Invitational Baseball Playoffs

The Agoura baseball team had their ace on the mound and big bat return to its lineup, but blew a three-run lead and lost, 5-3, to Saugus in the first round of the Valley Invitational Baseball League playoffs on Thursday.

Daniel Kolodin started for Agoura (8-11) and retired the first eight batters he faced in order. But with two outs in the bottom of the third, Saugus scored four runs and took a 4-3 lead.

Agoura first baseman Rhett Montana made his first start since July 16 and came up with two doubles to help his team build a 3-0 lead. He led off the second inning with a double and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Corey Rohm that put Agoura up 1-0.

"I knew they weren't going to mess around with me," said Montana, who has been playing with his Connie Mack team. "It's good to be back. It was a lot of fun."

Montana's double in the third inning scored Justin Cana and gave Agoura a 2-0 lead. Sam Gerald knocked in Chad Clark later in the inning and Agoura led 3-0. Clark went 3-for-4 with three singles and scored a run.

"I was looking for a fastball every at-bat," Clark said. "I was staying aggressive because pitchers are going to make a mistake."

Meanwhile, Kolodin was cruising. He struck out three in the first three innings, but with two outs in the bottom of the third, Nick Warren, the No. 9 hitter for Saugus, singled. Austin Rodriguez and Andru Cardenas walked to load the bases bringing up Nick Lombardi, the No. 3 hitter for Saugus.

He laced a double down the left field line that cleared the bases and tied the game 3-3. Lombardi came around to score later in the inning to give Saugus a 4-3 lead.

"The pitch selection was fine. He just missed his spot," said Clark who was catching Kolodin. "Lombardi just did the right thing. He hit the mistake."

Saugus threatened the blow the game open in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Chris Devery hit a high chopper back to the pitcher. Jordan Shulman threw home to Clark who fired to first for a double play to end the inning.

"I knew I could make the throw and not make a bad throw," Clark said. "We had nothing to lose."

Saugus (11-8) tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Scott Kerrigan doubled in Dylan Freyre with two outs.

Kolodin pitched into the fourth inning and was replaced by Shulman with two outs in the inning. Kolodin struck out five and gave up four runs, three earned, on two hits and two walks.

Kolodin was making his second start in a row against Saugus in the summer baseball league. He struck out 10 in a 3-1 win over Saugus on Saturday.

"We came more ready to play Saturday," Clark said. "We were all hyped up (Thursday). We just didn't execute."

While Kolodin was unhittable for the first 2 2/3 innings, he had trouble with his control in the third inning. He walked two and threw three wild pitches, but struck out Devery to end the inning and the four-run Saugus rally in the third. Kolodin struck out the first two batters he faced in the fourth inning, but when he hit Tyler Klipfel with two outs, Kolodin was taken out of the game.

Shulman pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, giving up one unearned run on one hit and striking out three.