Banuelos Packs Season Into a Week

Jose Banuelos thought it was a wasted effort. The sophomore had pitched five innings of relief for Valley College against Harbor on April 14 in a game that was called after 10 innings because of rain with the score, 6-6.

“I guess the umpires were saying that the pitchers were sliding off the mound,” Banuelos said. “But we thought Harbor just wanted to play us another time and keep us off balance.”

Last week, it was Banuelos who kept Harbor--and Rio Hondo--batters teetering. When it was over, the right-hander from Poly High had emerged with four wins in five days.

Tuesday, Valley and Harbor resumed the suspended game. The Monarchs scored quickly in the top of the 11th to go ahead, 7-6, and Banuelos held Harbor scoreless in the home half of the inning to earn the win. Banuelos then started the regularly scheduled game and pitched a complete game as Valley won, 5-2.

Saturday, Valley and Rio Hondo resumed a game started March 22 and called after 12 innings because of darkness with the score, 4-4. The Monarchs scored two runs in the 13th inning to take the lead and Banuelos held Rio Hondo scoreless to earn the win. Again Banuelos started the regularly scheduled game and pitched a complete game as Valley won, 3-2.

“I was just concentrating on throwing strikes and letting them hit the ball,” said Banuelos, who improved his record to 7-2 and lowered his earned-run average to 3.63. “All the guys were saying, ‘We need you.’ It was like do or die.”

Earlier this season, Banuelos’ career at Valley almost expired because of grade problems. Two weeks before the Monarchs began play in the Southern California Conference, Valley Coach Chris Johnson banned Banuelos from practice and told him to hit the books.

“Coach said, ‘You’re not going to go out and practice until you get your grades up,’ ” said Banuelos, who was the voted the team’s most valuable player last season. “I’d go out to the field and he’d say, ‘Get out of here. Go to the library.’ ”

Raising Kane: Joey Kane takes classes at a broadcasting school in Hollywood so he can improve his voice, learn about the music business and prepare for a career behind the microphone.

“My destiny is to get on the air,” Kane said.

If the freshman left-hander continues to exhibit the ability he showed Tuesday in Valley College’s 7-1 win over San Bernardino, his destiny may be to have his name all over the airwaves as a professional athlete.

Kane’s three-hit, 15-strikeout performance propelled Valley (17-16) into today’s game at College of the Desert that will determine third place in the Southern California Conference and probably earn the winner a berth in the state playoffs. Valley has won seven consecutive games.

Kane (5-6) carried a no-hitter into the eighth against San Bernardino before surrendering a single, and he dominated batters with an impressive forkball.

Master’s blasters: The Master’s College must win its final two games to qualify for the NAIA District 3 baseball playoffs.

The Mustangs (22-24, 11-9 in district play) play host to Azusa Pacific today and conclude their regular-season schedule at Biola on Friday.

Master’s scored 37 runs and had 33 hits in two lopsided victories over Biola last week. Tim Kane led Master’s with three of its seven home runs against Biola. Kane had five hits last week, including four home runs and a double.

Tod Skinner has set the record for hits in a season (70) and Tony Ellis has set a single-season record for runs scored (56).

Doing swimmingly: Valley College swimmers Shawna Sacks and Nancy Sas and diver Carlos Diaz will compete in the state junior college swimming and diving championships, which run today through Saturday at Ventura College.