It’s a ‘Crazy’ Victory for El Camino Real

There were 26 walks, four hit batters and a home run taken away for missing first base. As darkness descended on Cleveland High’s baseball field Thursday, the only thing missing was a full moon.

Somehow, El Camino Real managed to hold on for an 11-10 victory over the Cavaliers in a Northwest Valley Conference game.

Pitcher Josh Deneau of El Camino Real faced a desperate situation in the bottom of the seventh inning. The bases were loaded with none out. His team was clinging to a one-run lead in a game that had exceeded three hours. The umpires were ready to call the game because of impending darkness.

It was now or never for Deneau.

He responded by striking out Rigo Arosamena, Alex Legarreta and Robert Marcial, enabling El Camino Real (6-1, 2-0 in conference play) to put away Cleveland (2-5, 0-2).

“That was too crazy,” Deneau said.

The game began with Matt Schwartz of El Camino Real hitting the second pitch over the fence in left field. But the home run was quickly nullified when the base umpire ruled Schwartz failed to touch first base.

El Camino Real’s three pitchers walked 13 and hit two batters. Six times, Cleveland batters walked with the bases loaded. Three Cleveland pitchers issued 13 walks and hit two batters.

El Camino Real opened a 6-0 lead, then fell behind, 7-6. Scott Gilmore broke an 8-8 tie with a two-run double in the sixth inning for the Conquistadores.

But El Camino Real’s defense collapsed. Errors by Greg Acheatel and Gilmore allowed the Cavaliers to load the bases in the seventh. Deneau walked one run in, then unleashed three strikeouts in a row to end the walk-a-thon.

Brian Somoza led El Camino Real with four hits and five runs batted in. Catcher Tony Cicero of Cleveland reached base five times on four walks and a single.

“That was absolute craziness,” said Coach Bob Ganssle of El Camino Real.