Canyons’ Win Streak Reaches 20 After Sweep

Len Mohney was not about to stick his beet-red, sunburned neck on the line and predict that his College of the Canyons baseball team would win its remaining 10 games in Western State Conference play.

But Saturday, after the Cougars defeated Oxnard, 7-3 and 5-3 at home, Mohney really didn’t have to say anything. The team’s deeds saw to that. Mohney’s red-hot Cougars (23-3) have now won 20 consecutive games, 32 in a row at home and sit atop the WSC at 15-0.

“It’s going to happen sooner or later,” Mohney said, anticipating a loss.

The Canyons players, however, are not so sure.

“I don’t think we’re going to lose a game the rest of the season,” said Tim Nedin, whose complete game, six-hit performance in the opener improved his record to 9-0. “This team’s perspective is just win, win, win.”

Oxnard Coach Jerry White, whose team came into the doubleheader leading the WSC’s Northern Division, also sounded like a believer after his team fell to 8-5 in conference play.

“I’m very impressed with them and you can see why they’ve won so many games in a row,” White said. “Every time it seemed like we got good opportunities, we hit into a double play. Some of that was their pitching and some of it was because of their damn good shortstop.”

That would be Jeff Flesher, the sure-gloved shortstop who was in on four of the five double plays turned by the Cougars and was flawless in 10 chances. Flesher also extended his hitting streak to 19 games by going 3 for 5 and driving in two runs.

“I got some easy hops,” Flesher said. “We don’t lose when Nedin is pitching.”

Flesher’s first RBI came in the second inning of the opening game after former Simi Valley High catcher Tim Laker gave Oxnard a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer over the left-field fence. Flesher singled off losing pitcher Javier Alcarez and drove in Ernie Perez, who reached base on a fielder’s choice and was sacrificed to second by Randy Cooper.

Flesher delivered another key hit during a three-run fifth inning.

Canyons was leading, 4-2, when Oxnard reliever Andre Moore issued a bases-loaded walk to Don Pedersen. Two outs later, Flesher singled in Peter Washington from third to make the score 6-2, and Moore helped Canyons score its final run by issuing another bases-loaded walk to Billy Picketts.

Nedin had five strikeouts and five walks despite the fact that he said he could not get loose.

Canyons pitcher Pablo Suarez kept Oxnard batters very loose in the second game by hitting three of them and walking five others. Suarez (4-1), however, pitched effectively when he needed to and gave up just one run and four hits in six innings.

Oxnard took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Phil White singled home Biff McGahan, who had been hit by a pitch and balked to second.

Canyons came back with three runs in the home half of the second with the help of an error. Mike Bible singled to open the inning and John Glantz walked. Perez followed with a sacrifice bunt that Oxnard third baseman Heath DeLaTorre threw past first, allowing both runners to score.

Canyons led, 5-1, in the seventh when Oxnard started to rally. White reached on an error by first baseman Glantz and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Suarez walked DeLaTorre, Mohney brought in reliever Kevin Miner, who induced Sean Luft to fly out to left for the first out of the inning.

Miner, however, walked Laker to load the bases, which brought Phil Malquinalez--the tying run--to the plate.

Oxnard scored its second run without a swing of the bat when Bible made an errant throw trying to pick off Laker at first, which allowed White to score.

Malquinalez reciprocated with a mental error after singling to right to drive in DeLaTorre. Malquinalez took a wide turn at first and was tagged out by Glantz, who took a relay throw from second baseman Adam Grant.

Miner earned his third save by inducing McGahan to fly out to right to end the game.