Community College Baseball : Canyons Wins Twice for Title

After College of the Canyons came out of the losers’ bracket to beat Rancho Santiago twice, 7-6 and 7-5, to win the California Community College baseball championship Monday, the Cougars hoisted their coach, Mike Gillespie, upon their shoulders and gave him, perhaps, his final ride in a Canyons uniform.

This week, USC is expected to announce the name of Trojan Coach Rod Dedeaux’s successor. Gillespie, who drew the attention of Dedeaux and USC Athletic Director Mike McGee during the tournament at Blair Field in Long Beach, is a leading candidate.

Meanwhile, Gillespie can savor his third state championship in five years. Canyons, which won state titles in 1981 and 1983, is also the first community college team to win 41 games in a season. To do it, the Cougars had to twice beat Rancho Santiago, a team that beat Canyons, 11-6, Sunday.

“All in all, we have played 47 games and I have to say we’ve played pretty darned well,” Gillespie said. “I’m awfully proud of the way they came out with their backs against the wall last night, and then again today.”

By losing to Rancho Santiago Sunday, Canyons was forced to play again that evening against Long Beach. Canyons beat Long Beach, 4-1, to earn its appearance in the final game. Questionable before the start of the eight-team, four-day tournament was Canyons’ pitching, which, besides Frank Halcovich (15-0) and Darrin Beer (14-1), lacked depth and experience.

Halcovich, the 1985 and 1986 state player of the year, beat Rancho Santiago in the first game to force the afternoon final. The sophomore right-hander pitched his second complete game victory of the tournament.

It was Halcovich who took the loss last season when Cerritos beat Canyons in the championship game.

Freshman Jeff Ward started the second game for Canyons and was relieved by Beer. Beer had pitched in both games Sunday, getting a save against Long Beach. Canyons’ Chris Zavatsky, normally a reliever, ended the tournament with two victories.

“We had some guys come in and pitch fine,” Gillespie said. “Halcovich, of course, was beyond outstanding. But Beer, coming in after pitching twice yesterday, was tremendous.”

Said Beer: “I felt a little tired before the game, but once I got going I just couldn’t stop. I could have pitched 10 more innings.”

He almost had to. Canyons (41-6) played Rancho Santiago (34-9) to a 5-5 tie in nine innings. In Canyons’ half of the 10th, right fielder Chris Cota opened with a bunt single, and Bob Clark followed with a walk. Cota and Clark advanced a base on a passed ball by Rancho Santiago catcher Ron Terrill. Cota scored on a second passed ball, and when Terrill made an errant throw to get Clark at third, Clark scampered home for the final run.

Beer retired three straight in the 10th to preserve the win.