DeGenarro, Thompson Finish Fast After Slow Starts for Moorpark, 7-4

After each had less than admirable starts against Pierce College, Jon DeGenarro and Sean Thompson came through when it counted Thursday for Moorpark.

DeGenarro, who gave up two home runs in the first inning, held off a rally in the eighth and retired the side in ninth to help Moorpark to a 7-4 Western State Conference win at Pierce.

Thompson struck out in his first at-bat, walked in his second and was caught stealing after singling in the fifth inning. But in the seventh he had the game-winning hit, a two-run triple that gave Moorpark a 6-4 lead. In the ninth, Thompson scored the Raiders’ final run.

“Sean came through, didn’t he?” asked Moorpark Coach Ron Stillwell. He didn’t wait for an answer. “And DeGenarro’s always tough. That’s why he’s in there.”

Moorpark (14-10, 9-5 in conference) got two runs in its half of the first. Rod Stillwell, who had walked and advanced to third on successive singles by Dan Russell and Ed Hall, scored on a wild pitch by Pierce’s Paul Plyer. Russell went to third on the errant throw and scored on a bloop single by center fielder Corey Aurand.

And Moorpark had a 2-0 lead--for about two minutes.

In the Pierce first, DeGenarro, a freshman from Agoura High, struck out leadoff hitter Mike Rosenberg. Sophomore left fielder Mark Bowen went to the plate and took DeGenarro over the center field fence. Next, third baseman Brian Ogle homered to right.

“The two home runs didn’t really bother me,” said DeGenarro, who improved his record to 6-3 with his fifth complete game this season.

“I mean, I don’t like giving up home runs, but I’m a fastball pitcher--have been all my life. I threw too high to those two guys and they dinged. They were good shots.”

Said Stillwell: “We have expected Jon to do this kind of thing all season. He’s been consistent. He may not throw 95 m.p.h., but he hits the spots.”

For Pierce (6-14, 3-9 in conference), Plyer (0-1) went the distance, surrendering 16 hits, including three to Thompson.

With two out in the Moorpark seventh and the Raiders leading, 4-3, Troy Knox reached base on an infield single and went to second when Plyer walked Aurand. Plyer’s second wild pitch sent Knox to third and Aurand to second.

Then Thompson tripled, scoring Knox and Aurand and giving Moorpark a 6-3 lead.

The Raiders added another run in the ninth when Thompson, who singled, scored on a long single by Dan Keathley.