Junior College BASEBALL : Erickson Leads Canyons Win, 17-1

Shortstop Don Erickson had a two-run triple and a two-run single to open and close an eight-run third inning as College of the Canyons broke a scoreless tie and went on to maul Merced College, 17-1, Friday in the second round of the Allan Hancock College Tournament.

Erickson, a freshman from Kennedy High, was 3 for 5 with 6 RBIs.

Left-hander Chris Pollack (4-1) allowed one run and two hits over the first six innings to get the win for the Cougars (13-7-1).

Canyons catcher Pete Kuld had a two-run double in the third, designated hitter Greg Mayer socked a two-run homer in the fourth and Bill Bluhm stroked three singles in four at-bats.

Canyons, 1-1 in the tournament and ranked No. 9 in the state, will face Cerritos, the No. 1-ranked team in California, in today’s final round.

L.A. Valley 6, Porterville 5

Right fielder Mark Butcher hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to drive home Chris Haslock with the go-ahead run to give Valley College a non-conference win at home over Porterville College.

The Monarchs (9-9-1) had tied the game with a run in the sixth inning and three in the seventh.

Mike Anderson retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings to get his fourth win.

Porterville took the lead in the fifth inning at 4-1 on designated hitter Doug Juenke’s three-run homer.

“We have been struggling to get above .500 lately,” Valley Coach Scott Muckey said.

Pasadena 14, L.A. Mission 2

Pasadena City College scored 12 unearned runs to go with 14 hits in a nonleague game played at Pierce College. Randy Holst (0-1) took the loss for Mission (4-12).