Fred Riscen : The Secret of His Success : Southpaw Inherits Strong Supporting Cast in Quest for Championship Ring

Fred Riscen has come full circle, which makes the success he is having as a pitcher for College of the Canyons that much sweeter. He is a winner again, which, he says, is worth a fair share of strikeouts and notoriety.

Riscen, a stocky left-hander, led state junior colleges in strikeouts in 1986 but had little to show for it. He was pitching for Pierce, and all his 157 strikeouts and 3.12 earned-run average got him was a measure of publicity, a 6-7 record, three saves and a tired arm. He would have preferred a championship ring, which is why he transferred to Canyons.

Cozy little Cougar Field is by no means a pitcher’s paradise--it has been referred to as the “Temple of Boom”--but Riscen has no regrets about his decision to transfer.

His strikeout total is down, but his team’s winning percentage is up. Canyons is 32-8-1 heading into the state tournament beginning today in San Jose. Riscen, the team’s ace, is 9-3 and has an ERA of 2.17.

Before this season, Riscen had not experienced such a combination of team and individual success since his senior year at Granada Hills High, when he helped the Highlanders win the 1984 City Section 4-A championship and was selected player of the year.

He attended Cal State Northridge on scholarship but became academically ineligible after one semester. He eventually dropped out and transferred to Pierce to play for Tim Collins, a former Granada Hills assistant.

“He had helped me get a scholarship out of high school,” Riscen said of Collins, “so I thought I should go help him out.”

But after one season, Collins left--and so did Riscen.

Canyons, which wanted him from the start, was Riscen’s choice this time. The Cougars had just won their third state title in six seasons but were losing their top two pitchers.

For once, Riscen was going to the right place at the right time.

Rookie Coach Len Mohney needed a replacement for Darrin Beer, who chose to accept a scholarship to USC after his freshman season at Canyons.

“When I found out that Freddy was coming in, it took a lot of pressure off,” Mohney said. “I figured that Beer going to USC and Riscen coming here was an even trade.”

Despite his sub-.500 record at Pierce, Riscen had established himself as one of the state’s top pitchers. In a game against Metropolitan Conference champion Long Beach City College in April, 1986, he allowed four hits and struck out 14 only to lose, 1-0.

He has received considerably more support this season.

Example: In a 22-1 victory over Pierce in March, seven different Canyons’ players hit home runs. (The two starters that didn’t each had three hits).

“This is known as a hitter’s school,” said Mohney, whose team has 72 homers this season, “but we’ve also had our share of good pitchers, and Freddy is right up there with the best of them.”

Mohney said he will start right-hander Jeff Ward against Butte (29-13) today in Canyon’s first-round game at San Jose City College. Riscen will be saved for an anticipated second-round game with Camino Norte Conference champion Sacramento City College.

“When you get to the state tournament, the object isn’t to stay alive as long as you can, the object is to win it,” Mohney said of his decision to rest Riscen. “Butte battled us in the first round last season, but I have to think if we’re going to win this thing we’re going to need Freddy in the second round.”

Whatever opposition awaits Riscen in his first state tournament, it couldn’t be much tougher than the lineup he faces in practice.

“Our guys don’t like throwing against our guys,” Mohney said. “Freddy and just about all of our other pitchers have taken some licks during intrasquad games.”

Riscen admitted as much. “The hitters usually win in this park,” he said. “We know their weaknesses, but they know what we throw.”

Opponents have found hitting considerably tougher. In Canyons’ regional playoff series against L.A. Harbor College last weekend, Riscen won the first game, 9-3. He had a shutout through seven innings, allowed 9 hits, walked 2 and struck out 9.

“He was mixing his pitches and had great location,” catcher Mike Bible said of Riscen’s effort against Harbor. “That’s one thing about Fred, you can put your glove down and know he’s going to hit it.”

Riscen’s reputation for strikeouts belies his style of pitching. “He’s a power pitcher, but he can’t live on his fastball alone,” Mohney said. “He has that good curveball and isn’t afraid to start a batter with a changeup.”

Professional scouts obviously like whatever it is that Riscen throws. He has been drafted twice, by Montreal in January, 1986, and by Milwaukee last June.

A couple of good outings at the state tournament would enhance his chances of receiving a bonus larger than the $5,000 the Brewers offered last year. If not, Riscen, 20, has a scholarship to USC waiting for him.

“I guess everything that happened was for the best,” Riscen said, referring to his travels from school to school. “It couldn’t have turned out much better. I’m playing for a great team and I have a scholarship to a great school. All that’s missing now is that ring.”