Valley Holds Off Improving Mission

Granted, none of Valley College’s top-of-the-line pitchers took the mound Tuesday. And yes, a few Monarch regulars did sit out the nonconference baseball game against Mission.

It would be easy, therefore, to call Mission’s 11-7 loss to Valley just one more in what has historically been a self-fulfilling prophecy of defeat for the Free Spirit.

It also would be wrong.

Despite its 5-13 overall record, Mission is experiencing the beginning of a turnaround under first-year Coach John Klitsner, who took Sylmar High to the City Section playoffs in all six years he was head coach.

Klitsner, 37, knew what he was up against when he replaced Lee Fisher as coach of the beleaguered program last summer.

Mission, unlike neighboring Valley, Pierce and College of the Canyons, does not have a campus baseball facility on its San Fernando campus. The Free Spirit practices at Bluebird Field in Sun Valley and plays home games at Valley.

Klitsner’s main selling point to potential recruits is simply the opportunity to play junior college baseball.

“One of the goals for this season is to get some respect for this program,” Klitsner said.

Sharp, new pin-striped uniforms have taken care of outward appearances. However, it has been the Mission players’ performance and attitude, despite the team’s record, that has convinced opponents that a game against the Free Spirit does not necessarily mean a free victory.

Mission is only one win shy of last season’s total (six) under Fisher. And the Free Spirit, at 3-4 in the Southern California Athletic Conference, is still in contention for its first playoff appearance.

“Even if we lose, we’ve gotten respect,” said Mission center fielder Art Monreal, who had one hit Tuesday and is 12 for 23 in the past six games. “People say, ‘Hey, those guys have been in our face the whole game. They never gave up.’ ”

That was the case Tuesday as Valley--with the aid of two misplayed fly balls by Mission outfielders--put together a six-run second inning that helped give the Monarchs a 9-0 lead after three innings.

Mission held Valley to two runs the rest of the way. The Free Spirit rallied for one run in the fourth, two in the fifth, one in the seventh and three in the eighth before Valley reliever Mike Roberts retired the side in order in the ninth.

“I saw John Klitsner do some very good things at Sylmar High, sometimes without a whole lot of talent,” said Valley Coach Chris Johnson, whose team improved to 18-3-1. “I knew the Mission program would get turned around. Heck, it is turned around. That’s another guy who’s going to be recruiting the same kids we are.

“It’s going to be a little tough for John because Canyons is Canyons and we’re a little bit established now. But from a coaching standpoint he’s got it going.”