COLLEGE BASEBALL

Canyons 11, West L.A. 3--The best junior college pitchers tend to get scooped up by major league organizations, leaving schools such as Canyons (4-0, 13-2) with plenty of hitting talent but less-than-desirable pitching.

This season, the Cougars have reason to feel secure. Besides Frank Halcovich, who was last season’s conference player of the year as well as the state tournament’s most valuable player, Canyons has Darrin Beer. Beer, a freshman right-hander from Crescenta Valley, threw a five-hitter against West L.A.

Beer got into trouble early. “He was one batter away from being hooked,” Canyons Coach Mike Gillespie said. After giving up four hits, three runs and walking four, Beer knuckled down and pitched almost flawlessly for the final five innings. With an impressive breaking ball, Beer retired 17 of the final 18 Oilers’ batters. He struck out 12 and picked up his fourth victory.

Like sleeping giants, the Cougars mustered only one of their 11 runs in the first three innings. That run came in the third, about four seconds after catcher Pete Kuld stepped to the plate for the first time. Kuld homered to cut the Oilers’ lead to 3-1. Canyons scored again in the fourth when Frank Halcovich scored on a passed ball and Scott Drury scored on a Ted Kaye balk. Kaye (1-2) was the losing pitcher.

West L. A. 021 000 000 -- 3 5 4

Canyons 010 222 04x -- 11 11 2

WEST L. A.--Kaye, Messenger (6), Taylor (8) and Padre, Duron (7).

CANYONS--Beer and Kuld.

WP--Kuld (4-0); LP--Kaye (2-2).