Canyons Makes Pitch to Finish No. 1 in State

College of the Canyons, ranked No. 1 in the final Southland Poll by sports information directors, is the underwhelming favorite to win the junior college state baseball tournament, which begins Saturday.

“I don’t think you would want to throw them into a total favorite’s role, but I’ll tell you one thing: I wouldn’t bet against them,” said West L.A. Coach Art Harris, whose Oilers lost five times to Canyons this season. “They’re certainly going to play well and be as good as anyone else.”

Canyons (33-5) plays Harbor (28-11) Saturday at 1 p.m. at Canyons in a Southern Regional game.

Expect to see Frank Halcovich, the most successful pitcher in Canyons history, start Saturday. Halcovich (12-0) and Darrin Beer (11-1) lead the Canyons pitching staff.

With a .334 team batting average, the Cougars have only one apparent weakness going into the regionals: They lack a capable third pitcher.

After Halcovich beat Valley, 6-4, last Saturday, Canyons Coach Mike Gillespie said: “For us to come around in this tournament is going to take a combination of things. It’s just a matter of playing hot at the right time, some luck, what pitcher we’ll face, what pitchers we’ll dodge. For us to do well, some unsung guy has to come through--mainly a pitcher. That has to happen.”

Those pitchers, particularly occasional starter Jeff Ward and reliever Chris Zavatsky, haven’t played much this season. Not because they lack competence--each has impressive numbers--but because Halcovich and Beer have pitched so well.

Ward, a freshman from Crescenta Valley, has a 5-3 record, and Zavatsky, a sophomore from Alemany, is second among Valley-area pitchers with three saves.

“It’s all going to come right down to their pitching,” Valley Coach Scott Muckey said. “They ought to be just fine with Halcovich and Beer. Beyond that, what they’re going to have to do--and they’ve done it in the past--is get performances from pitchers that they haven’t got earlier in the season.”

Harris, who has coached against Canyons for 10 years, agrees.

“When you get into that state tournament, it’s very clear that you’ve got to have three--maybe four or five--guys who can get some outs.

“To be honest though, I don’t think there are many teams that have a great third guy. Orange Coast is considered an outstanding hitting club. But, the question is, are their third, fourth and fifth pitchers any better than Canyons’?”

750 pounds stronger: Cal Lutheran University has signed three football players--all linemen--adding to what the Kingsmen claim has been their best year of recruiting in 25 years.

The biggest--and potentially the best--is Ed Washington, a 6-5, 265-pound defensive tackle from Solano College. Washington is healing from a knee injury.

“Ed has definite Division I talent,” said Bernie Sandlin, the Kingsmen defensive line coach. “If he hadn’t been injured, we wouldn’t have had a prayer landing the guy. But doctors say he is healthy.”

John Gorecki, a 6-4 255-pound offensive tackle from Royal High, decided to leave Pierce College after his freshman year because of the uncertainty surrounding the Pierce football program.

“He contacted Cal Lutheran,” said Pete Alamar, the recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach for the Kingsmen. “John is a big, strong athlete with a lot of quickness. He could challenge for a starting position.”

Completing the trio of recruits is Brett Quilter, a 6-3, 230-pound center from Tonopah High in Nevada. Quilter is expected to learn the system and play behind returning starter Eric Riegert, a senior.

Baseball coaches from California Collegiate Athletic Assn. schools cut the conference schedule from 30 games to 24 during a meeting Monday night.

The coaches hope the move will help the Division II schools schedule more games against nonconference opponents, especially Division I schools.

Cal State Northridge Coach Terry Craven had mixed feelings about the decision.

“If we could get quality teams to play us then the logic behind it is fine,” Craven said. “But if we have to schedule more Division III schools to fill out our schedule, then I’m not happy with it.”

CSUN and other Division II schools with a history of success often run into a roadblock when trying to schedule games against Division I opponents.

“Some of the bigger schools would naturally rather play against a Division I team, even if the opponent isn’t very good,” Craven said. “If they lose to a Division I school, it’s no big deal. If they lose to a Division II school, it hurts them.”

CSUN will add new opponents to next season’s schedule, including Santa Clara, UC Irvine and San Diego State--all Division I schools.

CSUN also should benefit from the 20-60 rule, which allows Division II schools to play 20 games before Dec. 2 and 60 games during the regular season.

Last season, Division II schools were restricted to 60 games for the entire academic year.