JC HIGHLIGHTS : Moorpark’s Wapnick Blanks Taft

Sophomore Steve Wapnick retired the first 15 batters he faced on the way to a three-hit shutout as Moorpark College recorded a 7-0 win at home over Taft College Thursday.

Wapnick extended his scoreless-inning streak to 16 and improved his record to 4-1. He struck out seven and walked four in the game while allowing just three singles.

With the win, Moorpark remains in first place in the Western State Conference at 3-0 (5-5 overall) while Taft falls to 0-3 after a 7-1 pre-season.

Third baseman Sean Lang led the Moorpark offense with three singles in three at-bats including a two-run blow in the second when the Raiders took a 3-0 lead.

“Wapnick did a super job. He was getting all his pitches--change up, curve, slider, and fastball over the plate. He retired the side in order six times,” said Moorpark Coach Ron Stillwell.

Moorpark’s game at Oxnard College, scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed to Sunday at 1 p.m.

Pierce 18, Santa Monica 7

Pierre Rodnunski was 4 for 5 with 7 RBIs to lead Pierce College over Santa Monica College at home in a Metro Conference game.

Rodnunski contributed a two-run double in the Brahmas’ five-run first, a two-run single in the seventh, and a three-run homer in the eighth.

Darin Dotson pitched the first seven innings to gain his first win of the year as Pierce improved to 2-1 and 5-5.

Daren Cornell also homered for Pierce, a two-run shot in the second.

Canyons 9, Mission 9

Second baseman Bill Kuerston squeezed in the tying run in the bottom of the eighth for Mission College but the next Free Spirit batters grounded into a force out at the plate and struck out, respectively, which caused the game to end in a tie when umpires called it because of darkness at Valley College.

The tie leaves Mission at 1-1-1 in the Mountain Valley Conference and 4-8-1 overall while College of the Canyons is 1-0-1.

Canyons had jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on a three-run homer by Bill Bluhm.

Right fielder David Mendoza led the Mission attack with three RBIs, two singles and a double in three at-bats.