Moorpark Baseball Team Readies For Playoffs

Moorpark High’s baseball team finished fourth in the Marmonte League after losing 8-5 at Royal in Simi Valley on Wednesday in the last game of the regular season.

At 17-10, it has not been a perfect season. But a year ago, Moorpark advanced to the Southern Section Division I quarterfinals, and the Musketeers have every intention of doing just as well, if not better. Playoff pairings are scheduled to be released Monday, and Moorpark needs to win five in a row to win a section title.

Almost always the key is pitching, and Moorpark is strong in that department with Matt Higginbotham, Jordan Guerrero and Steve Donlon.

“We’re just trying to win every game,” Higginbotham said.

Higginbotham and Guerrero both throw hard, and sophomore Donlon is a surprise success.

Higginbotham has playoff experience from last season, so he is key.

“He’s one of the best,” teammate Sean Houlihan said.

Also, Moorpark proved it could thrive under the pressure of elimination by winning the VIBL championship this past summer.

In the loss to Royal in the finale, Moorpark committed four errors. Spencer Dubois was 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Jake Woolley was 1 for 3 with an RBI.

SOFTBALL ON A STREAK

Moorpark’s softball team finished the regular season with three wins in a row, outscoring opponents 28-2 including a 5-1 win Thursday over Westlake in the finale.

MOORPARK COLLEGE ATHLETES HONORED

Moorpark College softball pitcher Joanna Boicourt was named to the All-Western State Conference first team.  Boicourt, a freshman from Hueneme High, started every WSC game and had an 11-7 record with a 2.38 earned run average.  She completed all 18 games she started and had five shutouts.

Boicourt was also the Raiders’ leading hitter in WSC contests with a .429 average and a .650 slugging percentage.  In the Raiders 18 WSC games, she had 27 hits, scored 14 runs, and had 14 runs batted in.  She struck out just three times in 63 plate appearances.

Also receiving All-WSC honors were first baseman Jennifer Moreno, shortstop Nadia Lomeli, and center fielder Sami Alcaraz, all of whom were all named to the second team.  Second baseman Justine Rodriguez, and leftfielder Amber Sanders received honorable mention.

In baseball, pitcher Landon Hunt was named first team WSC North with a record of 2-3 with a  3.41 ERA. Infielder Austin Moscorro, pitcher Tyler Karp, and utility player Bryce Daily were named to the WSC North second team. Catcher John Travnick, infielder Tyler Wirth, and outfielder Taylor Kahanowitch received honorable mention.