Valley Finds a Peak : Monarchs Reach State Tournament After Slow, Trying Start

As his team prepares for today’s game against San Diego Mesa College in the first round of the state junior college baseball tournament, Valley Coach Chris Johnson said he cannot help but think of the 1987 World Series champion Minnesota Twins and the 1988 NCAA champion Kansas basketball team.

“I think people underestimate the feeling that momentum gives teams,” Johnson said. “It’s a very powerful thing. Once you get it, who knows what can happen?”

Johnson found out last Saturday when his team defeated College of the Desert, 18-8, in a Southern California Conference playoff game that earned the Monarchs a tournament berth. Valley trailed Desert, 8-6, after eight innings but scored 12 runs in the ninth--10 before Desert recorded an out.

“I’m not an old man,” said Johnson, 30, “but I’ve been in baseball quite awhile and that was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen.”

Valley’s performance against Desert, however, was no less impressive than the Monarchs’ play throughout the latter part of the season. The win was the eighth in a row for a Valley team that survived a preseason coaching change and a mid-season slump to emerge as one of the hottest teams in the state.

Not many people, least of all the players, expected to be in the playoffs when Johnson replaced Kevin Murphy, who resigned two weeks before the regular season to become a full-time scout for the Baltimore Orioles.

“The spirit on the team was like nothing,” said freshmen pitcher Joey Kane, who will start today against eighth-seeded Mesa (28-8). “When we came back from Christmas vacation, guys were talking about leaving and quitting.

“Everybody had to find it within themselves to believe in Coach Johnson. He had to prove that he was going to come in here and make us a winning program.”

Johnson, who has been an assistant at Ventura College and Cal State Northridge, said the transition was easier for him than for the players, despite the team’s 3-8 start.

“I fully expected them to do what any group of young men, especially at the junior college age, would do,” Johnson said. “They tested me.

“The approach I took was to give them enough rope to hang themselves. Three weeks into the season, I said, ‘Look, fellas, we’re going to do it the way I want to do it. Period. End of discussion. That’s the way it has to be for me to be comfortable, for you to be comfortable and so that you understand what direction we’re going.’ ”

Valley began conference play by winning its first five games. But inconsistency, both at the plate and on the mound, plagued the Monarchs throughout their SCC schedule. To qualify for the conference playoffs, the Monarchs had to win their final six games, including two against league-champion Harbor. That done, they beat San Bernardino and Desert to make the state tournament.

Johnson said that the back-to-the-wall experience will help his team throughout the tournament.

“We’ve been going through this one-game elimination for two weeks now,” Johnson said. “Our kids are used to it. They’re used to playing on the road. Right now, we feel as comfortable as you can feel in that situation.”

Valley feels even better that Kane (5-6) will be on the mound against Mesa. Using a fastball, curve and forkball, the left-hander from Notre Dame High pitched a three-hitter and struck out 15 in the Monarchs’ 7-1 win over San Bernardino last Thursday.

“The forkball is my pitch,” Kane said. “It’s easier for me to throw than my fastball. I can spot it. I feel like I have a lot of control with it, whereas with my fastball I just rare back and try to pump it in there.”

Should Kane falter, sophomore right-hander Jose Banuelos (8-2) will be summoned. On offense, the Monarchs are led by sophomore first baseman Mark Sallin (.361, 7 home runs, 30 runs batted in), sophomore left fielder Marty Williams (.400) and freshman second baseman Ray Sabado (.350).

Mesa finished second behind Palomar in the Pacific Coast Conference, but Eric Swanson said that this year’s team is the deepest he has had in four years as coach.

Mesa is led by three sophomores--third baseman Rick Joseph (.348, 5 HRs, 26 RBIs), catcher Mark Robert (.320, 3 HRs, 27 RBIS) and designated-hitter Mike Thomas (.344).

Sophomore right-hander Paul Anderson (8-2) will start for Mesa, with freshman right-hander Tom Stilinovich and sophomore left-hander Rigo Beltran (6-1) available if necessary.

The winner advances to the second round against the winner of today’s Oxnard-Orange Coast game.