SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS: DIV. I: CAMARILLO'S STREAK ENDS PUNCHLESS, ERROR-PRONE TEAM LOSES FOR FIRST TIME IN 24 GAMES ARLINGTON 7, CAMARILLO 4.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

RIVERSIDE - None of it was supposed to end this way. Not the school-record winning streak, not Delmon Young's high school career nor Scott Cline's nine-year career as head coach.

The Camarillo High baseball team's storybook run for a second consecutive Southern Section Div. I title came to a nightmarish end as the second-seeded Scorpions were upset by Arlington of Riverside 7-4 in the second round Tuesday at Arlington.

Camarillo committed four errors and was uncharacteristically quiet at the plate as the Scorpions lost for the first time in 24 games.

``We didn't look like us today,'' said Cline, who steps down as the Scorpions head coach one win shy of 200 career victories.

Even Young, who set nearly every team hitting record during a four-year varsity career that has made him a favorite to be the No. 1 pick in next week's pro draft, didn't look like his usual self. He committed the first of two Camarillo errors in Arlington's three-run sixth inning, and he was held to just one hit in four at-bats, the lone hit being a sharp comebacker off the pitcher's glove for a single in the fifth inning.

The Scorpions' run total was the lowest since before the winning streak began.

``We didn't swing the bat today,'' Cline said. ``If we swing the bats, maybe the errors don't hurt us. ... Their big guy shut down our big guys.''

Arlington ace Zech Zinicola earned the victory in relief. The only baserunner he allowed in two innings was Andrew Brewer, who was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth.

No Camarillo player had multiple hits. The Scorpions' only extra-base hit was a fourth-inning double by Garrett Barlow, who scored two batters later on a two-run single by Brewer that gave Camarillo (23-4) its first lead of the game at 3-2.

The Scorpions took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning before their pitching and defense began to falter. A throwing error on an attempted pickoff put runners at the corners with one out. Reliever Chris Whitley walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, then threw a wild pitch to bring Arlington (23-5) within one run. An intentional walk to Zinicola loaded the bases for Andy Bouchie, who hit a potential double-play grounder to shortstop. But instead of getting out of the inning, the Scorpions made an error to bring in the tying run.

In the sixth, a two-out single by pinch hitter Jason Sandoval got past Young to start an Arlington rally Camarillo could not overcome.

Young, who flew out to center for the game's final out, finished the season batting .523 with 28 RBI and seven home runs.

But Cline praised the entire team.

``I couldn't be more proud of my team,'' he said. ``At the beginning of the season, I kept telling people, `Just wait, just wait.' But I wasn't sure myself. I didn't know how long I'd have to wait. We overachieved. Granted, we had a couple great players, but the way they all came together and picked each other up to win 23 in row after starting 0-3, it's amazing.''