Bandits befuddled in SBBL title finale by another Arias

John McReynolds/Sports Writer | Posted: Monday, October 17, 2005 12:00 am

A spectacular season turned hum-drum Sunday as the Lompoc Honda Bandits, owners of a 20-game winning streak, lost 12-4 to the Goleta Diablos in the second game of the Santa Barbara Baseball League championship series. The Diablos thus packed home the league title with a 2-0 series record. They also won in 2004.

The D/s led Lompoc by a narrow 2-0 margin when their bats burst into flame in the sixth inning for nine runs on seven hits against Bandit starter Mike Bennett.

&#8221Instead of staying on the inside I tried to go outside,B said a downcast Bennett.

&#8221It was the third time around the order so I thought I/d give them a different look.B

Wrong decision7 returning to his pattern of the early innings Bennett gave up only three hits over the final three frames.

Former Lompocan Ramon Arias collected four hits and catcher Gareth Perry rapped two including a home run to lead the Diablos/ attack. Arias was named the MVP of the postseason. His brother Hipolito was named MVP of the regular season.

&#8221Winning feels good,B said Ramon Arias. &#8221It was nice to have my brother win too.

&#8221In the Santa Barbara Baseball League the Bandits are our best competition. We knew the championship was beween us and them. They never gave up.

&#8221My hat is off to Bennett.B

Diablo pitcher Israel Long, once a San Jose State hurler, pitched a complete game scattering nine hits and allowed no runs until the scoreboard read 11-0. Long escaped trouble repeatedly as Lompoc left 14 runners on base.

Lompoc finally scored two in the sixth, one on a leadoff home run by Larry Jacinto, one in the eighth on another Jacinto roundtripper, and one in the ninth.

Jacinto collected three hits in five trips to the plate. Bennett, the Bandit manager, totalled three hits including a double.

The Bandits won the SBBL regular season with a 20-2 record with the Diablos finishing second.

&#8221That 20-game win streak was fun as long as it lasted,B said Bennett.

&#8221It was a good season, good memories. Now we just have to get over the hump and win a title.

&#8221It was in reach.B

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

October 17, 2005