Last-Place Corsairs Will Play a Pair

Unable to break out of last place in the Metropolitan Conference, the Santa Monica College baseball team plays at El Camino today at 2:30 p.m. and will host Bakersfield Tuesday at 2:30.

The Corsairs (1-9 in league play) have dropped 14 of 15 games in the last six weeks. Coach Marty Berson said, “The players are discouraged. They’re watching rather than making things happen.”

In first-round league play, El Camino beat the Corsairs, 10-4, and Bakersfield defeated them, 10-5.

“Our pitching has collapsed,” Berson said. “The entire team is beginning to believe that no lead it has is safe.”

Last week, pitcher Andrew Peruzzi lost a three-run lead over Los Angeles City and the Corsairs lost, 4-3. Peruzzi (0-4) may start against El Camino.

Pitcher Jeff Allen (0-3), who was charged with last week’s 12-5 loss to Pasadena, should start against Bakersfield if Berson continues his present pitcher rotation.

Most of the Corsair bats were silent in a 6-1 non-league loss last week to the USC junior varsity. The exceptions were first baseman Darren Payne, who went three for four, and second baseman David Zuckerman, who had two hits.

Despite the dismal record, Berson said this is his best club in four years at Santa Monica. “They’re not a bad team. They need a conference win to get going.”