Carson Richter's 3-run homer powers Newbury Park baseball to win over Thousand Oaks

Michigan commit's blast in the first inning gives Panthers early lead in 3-0 victory.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:18am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting various baseball actions and players, conveying the competitive spirit of the matchup between the two high school teams.A cubist interpretation of the key moments from the Newbury Park-Thousand Oaks baseball rivalry, capturing the dynamic energy of the game.Thousand Oaks Today

Newbury Park center fielder Carson Richter hit a 3-run home run in the first inning to lead his team to a 3-0 win over Thousand Oaks on Thursday. Starting pitcher Chase Renzo worked out of several jams to earn the victory for the Panthers, who took the season series 2-1 against their rivals.

Why it matters

This win gives Newbury Park momentum heading into the rest of the season as they look to challenge for a league title, while Thousand Oaks will need to regroup after dropping the series finale.

The details

With two runners on base in the bottom of the first, Richter, a University of Michigan commit, drove a 1-1 hanging curveball over the left-center field wall to give Newbury Park a 3-0 lead. Thousand Oaks starting pitcher Dane Bacon settled in after the rocky first inning, but Newbury Park's Chase Renzo worked out of several jams to preserve the lead. A baserunning mistake in the sixth inning cost Thousand Oaks a potential rally.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Carson Richter

The center fielder for Newbury Park High School and a University of Michigan commit, who hit a 3-run home run in the first inning to give his team an early lead.

Chase Renzo

The starting pitcher for Newbury Park High School, who worked out of several jams to earn the victory for the Panthers.

Dane Bacon

The starting pitcher for Thousand Oaks High School, who settled in after a rocky first inning but took the loss.

Hayden Cronenbold

The head coach of the Thousand Oaks High School baseball team.

Curtis Scott

The head coach of the Newbury Park High School baseball team.

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What they’re saying

“Just a good team win. Good to come out after yesterday and just get a W to win the series.”

— Chase Renzo, Newbury Park starting pitcher

“Big weight off my shoulders. I just feel a lot looser when there's some room to wiggle.”

— Chase Renzo, Newbury Park starting pitcher

“He did a great job of not getting rattled after one play. Really came back and showed us he had a little bit of grit in him.”

— Hayden Cronenbold, Thousand Oaks head coach

“At that moment, he's our best guy. You go with your best guy and he's proven it.”

— Curtis Scott, Newbury Park head coach

“He's got to understand that he's not the tying run or the winning run in that situation, and that he's got to run with his head up.”

— Hayden Cronenbold, Thousand Oaks head coach

What’s next

The two teams will meet again later in the season for another key league matchup.

The takeaway

This game showcased the talent and competitiveness of the Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks baseball programs, as they continue their longstanding rivalry in the quest for a league championship.