BASEBALL: BLAINE, WESTLAKE TOP AGOURA PITCHER THROWS STRONG GAME; CATCHER HITS 2 WESTLAKE 4, AGOURA 2.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

AGOURA HILLS - Justin Blaine had a feeling he and Konrad Thieme would make a good combination. Few would disagree after Blaine and Theiene kept the Westlake High baseball team in the running for its third consecutive Marmonte League title.

Blaine struck out nine in a complete game five-hitter, and Thieme hit his first two home runs of the season in Westlake's 4-2 victory over host Agoura on Wednesday, making the Warriors only the second team this season to beat the Chargers.

``We got shut down,'' Agoura coach Zach Miller said. ``It all started with Blaine. Blaine threw well. He came to win.''

Blaine, a University of San Diego-bound left-hander, has started to find his groove and become the dominant pitcher Westlake (12-4, 4-2) envisioned since Thieme became his catcher. Blaine suggested the switch a few weeks ago because Thieme is a bigger player and a more similar target than Blaine was used to last season with Mike Nickeas, who has moved on to Georgia Tech. Jake Brin, who continues to catch for the Warriors' other pitchers, provides sound defense at shortstop when he isn't at catcher, so Westlake didn't mind the move.

``We kind of got on the same page,'' Blaine said of Thieme, who threw a runner out in the second inning. ``We work well together. It's not Nickeas, but he does a good job.''

Blaine retired the side in order in the first and had eight strikeouts by the end of the fourth inning. The only inning the Chargers (9-2, 3-2) got multiple hits was in the third when Matt Layer singled and Adam Schneider had a two-run double, after which only one other Agoura player advanced as far as second.

Blaine (4-2) has 18 strikeouts in his past two games, both wins.

``It's about time,'' he said. ``I started kind of slow.''

Agoura starter J.T. Trelatsky (4-1) was almost as effective, with the exception of a few pitches. The sophomore right-hander struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings, but three of the six hits he allowed were home runs, which provided all of Westlake's runs. Thieme hit a two-run homer in the second, a solo shot to lead off the fifth. Cody Cipriano hit a two-out home run in the seventh.

``It's an important win,'' said Blaine, whose team now has the same number of league losses as the Chargers, who play for first place Friday against Moorpark. ``They're a great team. They're probably the best team we've played all season.''

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Photo:

Pitcher Justin Blaine of Westlake throws complete-game five-hitter as the Warriors held off Agoura.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer