Century League Baseball : Cummings Has Homer, One-Hitter for Canyon

John Cummings’ 11-strikeout, 1-hit pitching was probably enough to ensure Canyon High School a victory in its Century League baseball opener against Villa Park Friday at Canyon.

But Cummings, a senior, added two singles and a two-run homer that provided the finishing blow in a five-run sixth inning as Canyon won, 8-0.

“Everything went right,” Cummings said. “I was surprised I hit it out. I had had one homer last season, but I’ve really been concentrating on pitching this season.”

He used a fastball and a curve for the shutout. A leadoff single by Villa Park’s John Genova in the fourth inning was the only hit the Spartans could manage. Villa Park (4-4 overall, 0-1 in league play) got the ball out of the infield only twice more.

Canyon (4-1, 1-0) had no such problems at the plate, getting nine hits. Joe Furkawa, a senior shortstop, was 3 for 4 with a single, 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. Furkawa is 7 for 8 in his last 2 games.

The Comanches had at least one hit in every inning but the fourth and scored once each in the second, third and fourth innings.

“I hope this sends a message to our guys,” Canyon Coach Hi Lavalle said. “That’s what we needed. This was a sparkling game for us.

“They (Villa Park) are a good team. I knew we had to get a performance like that from (Cummings). He was just about as good as he can be today.”

Cummings never faltered. He seemingly grew stronger as the game wore on, and Canyon’s five-run sixth gave the Comanches plenty of insurance. With Canyon leading, 3-0, going into the sixth, John Thibert led off by getting hit by a C.J. Johnson pitch.

Mike Williams sacrificed Thibert to second, then Villa Park opted to intentionally walk Ralph Pacheco. The move backfired as Danny Puskas followed with a double to right-center, scoring Thibert and Pacheco. Furkawa then drove in Puskas with a ground-rule double.

Kevin Ehl replaced Johnson for Villa Park, then Cummings capped the inning with his home run.

“I’m expected to hit, too,” Cummings said. “I am batting cleanup.”

Cummings, who improved his record to 2-1, said he has made an oral commitment to play at USC. He said he also considered the University of Illinois, Arizona State, San Diego State and Texas El Paso.

“We did not execute offensively, and it was because of (Cummings),” Villa Park Coach Dave Ochoa said.

Santa Ana 19, Santa Ana Valley 2--Julio Vargas had three hits and seven RBIs for visiting Santa Ana (5-2, 1-0). Vargas, a junior, hit a three-run home run in the first inning, a two-run double, a single for a run and a sacrifice fly. Jason Harned had three hits, including two doubles and three RBIs, and Philip Flores had two hits and three RBIs.

El Modena 8, Foothill 2--Todd Hively went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs to lead host El Modena (3-5, 1-0). Marcus Esposito (3-0) threw a five-hitter, striking out four. Adam Chambers hit a home run for Foothill (0-1 in league).