SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : 2-A : Cougars Beat the Heat, 4-3 : Capo Valley Scores in the Seventh, Tops Central Union

Craig Anderson could handle the heat. He didn’t mind playing in the desert temperatures into which his team had descended. He didn’t seem fazed by the pressure of being head coach in a playoff game--even though he inherited that responsibility less than 18 hours before. Nor was he flushed when Tommy Adams, his star hitter, was hit by three pitches, two of them striking him in the shoulder.

What bothered the Capistrano Valley assistant, though, was the possibility of losing. Especially after Coach Bob Zamora, whom he’d assisted for nine seasons, was barred from coaching or even attending games for the remainder of the playoffs for violating a Southern Section rule.

With the heat literally on, the Cougars (25-3) scored in the seventh to defeat Central Union, 4-3, in a Southern Section 2-A quarterfinal.

It was the 13th time this season the Cougars had won a one-run game.

“I’ll tell you one thing,” Anderson said, “I didn’t want to go home with a loss. There is pressure, that’s a reality.”

But it didn’t start out that way. Brett Snyder, the Cougars’ pitcher, thoroughly confused Central’s batters, striking out four of the nine he faced in three innings.

Capistrano Valley’s offense was also clicking. In the fourth, third baseman Chris Wend reached on by a fielder’s choice and moved to second when Adams was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. Then second baseman Chris Ashbach singled to give Capistrano Valley a 2-0 lead.

Capistrano Valley scored again in the fifth when Bill Bardens doubled to score Brian Walker.

“The team was cruising along and we had a three-run lead, and all the sudden the roof caves in,” said Anderson. “We started throwing the ball away.” And the lead.

In the sixth, Snyder gave up a single to David Garcia, and walked Eddie Sellers. Snyder struck out Gene Martin, but gave up another single to Ronnie Castillo, loading the bases. Mickey McShan, the cleanup hitter, hit a grounder to shortstop Bardens, who tired to start a double play. But his throw went instead into right field, where Adams picked it up and threw wildly trying for home. When the play was finally over, the score was tied, 3-3.

“After everything we were really up for this game,” Anderson said. “They dedicated this game to Bob. I think they were a little too high.”

In the seventh, catcher Mike Pierce singled off Chris Mason, the third Central Union pitcher, driving in Charles Lockard for the winning run. Lockard reached on a fielder’s choice, then stole second.

Snyder, who went the distance in spite of moments of turbulence, won his 11th game in 12 starts. Mason took the loss for Central Union (19-5-1).