The Lompoc Honda Bandits opened the Santa Barbara Baseball League playoffs Sunday by posting their 19th straight victory, 10-8 over the Santa Barbara Giants.

One more win and the Bandits qualify for the finals.

Yesterday/s victory at Santa Barbara High School did not come easy as the Giants started the scoring with four runs in the second inning, three of them unearned.

The Bandits fought back with five in the third on RBI singles by Casey McNamee and Jason Green, an RBI double by Derek Carpio, and another RBI single by Ray Hirzel. Three of the runs scored with two out.

The Bandits built up their lead to 9-4 before the Giants exploded for four runs in the seventh against winning pitcher Ryan Day. Player-manager Mike Bennett took the mound in the eighth to stop any further such outbursts and his club posted a final run in the bottom of the inning.

"The bottom of our order came through big time," said Bennett, pointing to eighth place hitter Carpio who went 3-for-4 with a double.

Green went 3-for-4 with a triple, McNamee and Larry Jacinto 2-for-5 with doubles as the Bandits pounded out 15 hits.

"Ryan kept them off balance," said Bennett who nominated himself to start next Sunday/s contest and Day to start the second game which will be required should the Giants win the opener. The games are scheduled for Santa Barbara High beginning at 10 a.m.

In the other semifinal the defending Goleta Diablos downed the Santa Barbara A/s 8-1.

John McReynolds can be reached at 736-2313, Ext. 106, or jmcreynolds@lompocrecord.com.

September 26, 2005