COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Moorpark Beats Ventura as Leighton Improves to 5-0

Willie Leighton, a Moorpark College sophomore, used a wicked slider Tuesday to strike out five and defeat host Ventura, 10-5, in a Western State Conference baseball game.

Leighton, a left-hander who played at Fillmore High, improved his mark to 5-0. He was relieved in the ninth by Rob Teasdale.

“If we can pitch, we’re going to win some games,” Moorpark Coach Ken Wagner said. “He’s one of the guys we’re counting on.”

Dan Smith, Jason Jones and Marcus Lockwood each hit home runs for the Raiders (10-6, 5-1 in conference play).

Ventura dropped to 9-7, 2-4.

Mission 9, East L. A. 6 (11 innings)--Dain Turner led off the 11th inning with a solo home run to right to break a 6-6 deadlock and lift Mission to a Southern California Athletic Conference win at East L. A.

Nick Lymberopoulos (5-2) entered in the ninth to collect the victory for the Free Spirit (11-6-1, 3-1).

In another baseball game:

Cuesta 9, Pierce 3--Chal Fanning went the distance, scattered eight hits and struck out four to pick up his first win in a Western State Conference game at Pierce.

TENNIS

Santa Barbara 6, Moorpark 3--The Vaqueros took over first place in the Western State Conference.

Moorpark’s Mike Studebaker lost his first conference match after six wins, to John Fox, 4-6, 6-3. Andrew VanCott and Jeff Walendy, the Raiders’ No. 1 doubles team, defeated Fox and Mike Henderson 6-4, 7-6, (9-7).