SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS : Pierce Hits Vulnerable Moorpark

Although the Moorpark College baseball team was defeated by Pierce, 8-5, in the Raiders’ home opener Tuesday, Moorpark Coach Ron Stillwell said the biggest loss of the season has come at the hands of eligibility.

“We were dealt a severe blow before the season when we lost two of our starters to grades,” Stillwell said. “We haven’t totally recovered yet.”

Pierce pitcher Fred Riscen didn’t give the Raiders’ much of a chance.

Riscen, a freshman from Granada Hills, pitched a complete game and struck out 13 batters, including four in a row in the late innings. Riscen (2-1) allowed 10 hits and walked two. He has pitched three complete games and recorded 32 strikeouts.

“He’s the best pitcher I’ve seen in a long time,” said Moorpark assistant coach Gil Mendoza. “He really hurt us.”

Riscen, who along with teammate Leo Clouser was drafted by the Montreal Expos earlier in the year, pitched all nine innings, while Moorpark’s Steve Reed pitched through eight.

Reed, who transferred to Moorpark from Pierce after last season, appeared nervous through the first three innings allowing five runs on three doubles and a home run.

“He was a little more emotional in the beginning,” Stillwell said, “but, he settled down.”

Reed steadied out after the third but got into trouble again in the late innings.

With two out in the top of the eighth and the score tied at 5, Mark Bowen reached first on a single to right field before Reed walked Jamie Aleck and Joe Reda to load the bases. Brad Winiwich came to the plate, and with a 2-1 count, he hit a fastball down the left-field line that rolled just under the glove of Dennis Mihelic scoring Bowen and Aleck.

Riscen struck out all three Moorpark batters in the bottom of the inning.

In the ninth, Bob Ayrault relieved Reed for Moorpark and struck out the side, but not before Pierce scored it’s final run.

Ayrault began the inning by hitting Michael Rosenberg in the hand with a pitch. He then gave up a single and a walk to load the bases. Ayrault struck out Jon Tanis, but Pierce scored on a Bowen single to left field before Ayrault retired the last two batters.

Pierce is 3-2 overall, while Moorpark’s record is 2-2.

Valley 12, Orange Coast 2--Valley pitcher Drew Ricker earned his second win and three teammates combined for 12 of the team’s 16 hits in the Monarchs nonconference victory at home.

Ricker gave up three hits and had eight strikeouts in his eight innings of work.

Sal Villasenor had four hits, including a homer and a double, and four RBIs.

Chris Haslock had five hits, doubling twice, and four RBIs. Mark Gieseke had three hits and scored twice.

Valley is 4-2. Orange Coast is 5-2.

Simi Valley 15, Canoga Park 0--Simi Valley’s Shawn Murphy had two triples and three runs batted in as the Pioneers won their baseball season-opener at home.

Murphy, an All-Southern Section outfielder last season, was the starting pitcher for Simi Valley and pitched four innings to earn the win.

Dwane Mulville, a senior centerfielder, a three hits and four RBIs for the Pioneers.

Burroughs (B) 4, Crescenta Valley 3--Burroughs third baseman Todd Pam got hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to force in the winning run in the Indians’ baseball season opener at home.

Pam’s RBI capped a three-run seventh inning rally by Burroughs.

E.J. Pape, a sophomore shortstop, hit a home run for the Indians in the first inning.

Harvard 4, Chaminade 2--Harvard scored three runs in the third inning to win their Santa Fe league opener at Chaminade.

The Saracens were led by first baseman Chad Thumann, who went 2 for 3, and center fielder Andrew Sikking, who went 1 for 2 and singled in the game winning run. Chaminade scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning. The game was called after six innings because of darkness.

Merritt Robinson (1-0) earned the win. Denny Vigo (0-1) suffered the loss.

Track and Field

Harvard 79, Faith Baptist 48-- Jeff Halpape won the mile in 4:58.1, while teammate David Daniels won the two mile in 11:27 for Harvard at a track meet.