Clayton Pitches Northridge Past Cal State L.A., 3-2

From the moment he was named Cal State Northridge baseball coach in the summer of 1988, Bill Kernen has maintained that the key to the Matador program will be effective recruiting.

Overshadowed by the players who signed on last season was Kernen’s hiring of former Cal State Fullerton ace Dave Weatherman as pitching coach.

Weatherman, the winningest pitcher in Fullerton history, helped lead the Titans to the 1979 national championship. And in his short tenure with the Matadors, he has helped develop Weathermanesque potential in sophomore right-hander Craig Clayton.

That was evident again Friday night at Cal State Los Angeles where Clayton weathered some shaky Northridge defense and pitched a complete game as the Matadors defeated the Golden Eagles, 3-2, in a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. contest.

Clayton, who pitched just 6 2/3 innings last season, allowed three hits and struck out six against the Golden Eagles, improving to 5-2 with his third complete game.

His effort, coupled with back-to-back home runs by Denny Vigo and Eric Johnson in the fourth inning, helped the Matadors (11-10, 6-5 in conference play) end a four-game losing streak.

“Every time I come in between innings I talk to (Weatherman),” Clayton said. “He tells me what I should be trying to do and it clicks in just like that.”

Weatherman, who compiled a 42-11 record at Fullerton, downplays his impact on Clayton’s success--but their similarities in mechanics and attitude are obvious to anyone who saw Weatherman pitch.

“(Clayton) has a lot of natural ability but his best quality is his competitiveness,” Weatherman said. “Each time out, he’s gotten better and better.”

The Matadors, who committed five errors Wednesday in a loss to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, had four more against the Golden Eagles (9-13, 2-2), including two in the second inning that led to the game’s first run.

Northridge came back and took the lead in the fourth on Vigo’s and Johnson’s back-to-back-homers off losing pitcher Abdom Pinon (2-1). It was Vigo’s seventh homer and Johnson’s second.

The Matadors added what proved to be the game-winning run in the fifth when Mike Sims scored on a wild pitch by Pinon after reaching on a fielder’s choice and advancing to third on a double by Clayton.

Cal State L.A. pulled to within, 3-2, in the home half of the fifth when Randy Day walked, stole second and scored when Sharts mishandled a throw by Clayton on a bunt by Brent Bish.

Cal State L.A. missed an opportunity to tie the score in the sixth when Picketts, who had singled, was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a double to left field by Mart Tourville.

The Matadors and Golden Eagles conclude their two-game series today at Matador Field at 1 p.m.

Northridge then plays 11 nonconference games--eight against Division I opponents--before resuming CCAA play April 5 against Cal Poly Pomona.