Vigilantes Beat Reno Again

The Vigilantes’ Paul Anderson needed his glove, his speed and his arm for a complete-game, 3-2, victory over Reno in a Western Baseball League game Thursday at Saddleback College in front of an announced crowd of 1,476.

Anderson took a 3-1 lead into the ninth but that was quickly in danger after he gave up a lead-off double Todd Takayoshi, the league’s top hitter. After a walk, Anderson got Andy Tarpley to hit a grounder to shortstop Sean Drinkwater, who tossed to second baseman Pat O’Connor for a force out.

But O’Connor’s relay throw was wild, enabling Takayoshi to score and Tarpley to reach second. Anderson got David Francisco to hit a grounder back to the mound that he caught, then rapidly turned and chased down and tagged Tarpley for the second out.

Anderson realized Francisco took too wide a turn at first and threw to first baseman Corey Parker, who relayed the ball to Drinkwater, who tagged Francisco for the final out.

It was the fourth double play of the game for Mission Viejo (13-15), which won two of three from Reno (18-10), the first-place team in the Northern Division.

The complete game was the team-leading fifth for Anderson (4-8). He struck out three and walked two and needed 97 pitches.

Bret Barberie had a two-run homer, his ninth, and Sean Drinkwater added a sacrifice fly as the Vigilantes took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.