Vigilantes’ 4-Run First Inning Beats Chico

The Vigilantes scored four runs in the first inning en route to a 4-2 victory at Chico in front of an announced crowd of 2,809 in a Western Baseball League game Sunday.

Willie Mosher had an opposite-field single to left to start the game and Bret Barberie followed with a double that hit the left-field line.

Corey Parker singled to center to drive in Mosher and Alan Burke followed with a sacrifice fly to score Barberie and make it 2-0. Sam Taylor singled and eventually scored along with Parker when Chris Briones’ single hit the right-field line.

Paul Anderson, who gave up two runs in the second, got his third consecutive victory and third complete game in a row for the Vigilantes.

Anderson, a right-hander, gave up eight hits and had six strikeouts and threw 128 pitches for Mission Viejo (18-20).

The victory ended the Vigilantes’ two-game losing streak but a playoff berth is still a long shot for the two-time defending league champions.

Sonoma County, which won the first half of the season, has a four-game lead over second-place Chico with seven games left.

If Sonoma County wins the second half, the second playoff spot goes to the team with the next best overall record. Chico is 41-42, Salinas is 39-44 and the Vigilantes are 36-47.

Mission Viejo has three more games in Chico, is off Thursday and ends the regular season with a four-game series with Sonoma County starting Friday at Saddleback College.