BASEBALL: LAMBO, N.P. GUT OUT WIN PITCHER BEATS T.O. DESPITE BUM HAND NEWBURY PARK 9, THOUSAND OAKS 6.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP

Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS -- As Newbury Park High star Andrew Lambo walked off the diamond, he was greeted by a child seeking an autograph from someone who had just added another chapter to his legend.

Despite a hand injury that left his coach questioning if he would even pitch, Lambo struck out 10 batters Wednesday at Thousand Oaks that made the senior left-hander the first pitcher this year to beat the Lancers.

The 9-6 victory over the top-ranked team in Southern Section Div. I gives the defending league champion Panthers sole possession of first place in the Marmonte League.

"He showed what kind of player he is today," Newbury Park coach Scott Drootin said. "That's how tough he is."

Thousand Oaks (10-1-1, 3-1-1) had handed the Panthers (11-1, 5-0) their lone loss in the championship game of the season-opening Easton tournament, and this time looked to become the first team to beat Newbury Park with Lambo on the mound since he transferred into the league last season.

But Lambo's determination that has worn off on the Panthers fueled the comeback in a game in which Lambo surrendered seven hits and needed a five-run sixth inning from his teammates to take the lead for good.

"He's the best leader I've ever played with," Newbury Park second baseman Jack Marder said of Lambo. "You don't want to let him down. He kept us in there and he kept us alive.

"This group is a bunch of knuckleheads, a bunch of crazy battlers. This team just wants to win and will do whatever it takes to do it."

Marder, who had a game-high three hits, and Mike Schwartz both drove in three runs for the Panthers.

The decisive rally was sparked by Brad Greve's grounder, which went between the legs of Thousand Oaks third baseman Jett Bandy to bring in two runs and put Newbury Park up 6-5.

Lambo then received his second intentional walk of the game, and Marder and Schwartz followed with run-scoring singles that had the Panthers up 9-5 by the end of the inning.

Thousand Oaks starter Chad Smith had held the Panthers to one hit and struck out five through the first three innings before Newbury Park started to chip away against a Lancers staff that entered with a league-best 1.90 staff ERA.

Anthony Montenegro cut the Panthers' deficit to 2-1 with a fourth-inning home run.

An inning later, Marder followed an intentional walk to Lambo with a two-run single to give the Panthers the lead.

Thousand Oaks countered with dramatics of its own in the bottom of the fifth, as Daniel Payne, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the inning, hit a score-tying home run.

Kyle Jones, who led the Lancers with two hits and three runs scored, scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Chris Hannick.

The win was the seventh in a row for the Panthers, who have outscored opponents 41-15 in league play.

"I wouldn't say we're the best team around yet," Marder said. "But we're playing the best right now."

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Newbury Park pitcher Andrew Lambo allowed six runs and seven hits but got the victory.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News