Hacker's pitching carries Oaks Christian to victory

With the last name of Hacker, it's no surprise Oaks Christian School sophomore Drew Hacker loves to hit.

The Lions starting second baseman came into Thursday night's game against Nordhoff High with a gaudy .513 batting average, a team-high 14 RBIs and 13 runs scored.

As good a hitter as Hacker is, Oaks Christian coach Tim Penprase said Hacker also has a lot of talent as a pitcher. The problem is Hacker isn't all that enthralled with taking the mound.

But being a good team player, Hacker has put aside his preference to avoid pitching for the good of the team. Against Nordhoff, Hacker's pitching talents proved to be the difference in a 3-0 Oaks Christian victory.

Hacker tossed a complete game, surrendering three hits while striking out seven.

"Drew is a fierce competitor who doesn't like to lose," Penprase said. "He does what he has to do to help his team and he did that again tonight."

Hacker's main objective was to get ahead of the Nordhoff hitters. He did that, allowing him to spot his pitches and keep them off balance.

"I got a lot of help tonight from my team," Hacker said. "Nick Pann made a great play at third base and (Sean) McCarthy and (Blake) McFadden turned a big double play as well. I just tried to make them hit it on the ground and my teammates did the rest."

Oaks Christian pushed its first run across in the bottom of the first inning. After the first two batters made outs, McCarthy found the left-center field gap for a double.

Pann followed by lining a shot just over the outstretched glove of Nordhoff third baseman Shawn Bettles, allowing McCarthy to score.

The Lions eventually loaded the bases, but Dan Stoner coaxed a ground ball to short, allowing the Rangers to escape by giving up just one run.

From that point on, Stoner settled down and pitched a spectacular game. Following the first inning, the crafty left-hander didn't allow another run until the sixth.

Through one stretch from the third and into the fourth innings, Stoner struck out five of the six Lions hitters he faced.

Stoner kept Oaks Christian to that lone run until the bottom of the sixth. Penn led off with a walk and then stole second. After the next two Lions were retired by Stoner, Oaks Christian left fielder Kevin Leonard hit a high fly down the right-field line that somehow fell among three Nordhoff fielders, allowing Travis Radke, who was pinch running for Pann, to score.

Disappointed in giving up the run, Stoner walked four in a row, the last one being Hacker, forcing across the final run of the game. Stoner was relieved, and while he took the loss, his strong effort kept his team in the game.

"Dan turned in a great performance," Nordhoff coach John Lesuer said. "They are a really good hitting team and he did a great job of keeping them off balance."

Stoner thought it was the best game he's pitched all season.

"I had pretty good command of my pitches and I was able to hit some corners," Stoner said. "I wish we could have won, but I'll take a lot from the way I pitched tonight."

This was the second straight night that the Lions had a pitcher turn in a strong performance. Penprase said he is pleased to see the way his kids are building momentum for the remainder of the Tri-Valley League schedule.

"The last two games were good wins for us," Penprase said, "We've had different guys step up and that's going to really be important as we play the rest of the season."