Zancanaro Polishes Off CSUN in Shining Effort

Professional baseball scouts breathed a collective sigh of joy and relief Wednesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Westwood.

Dave Zancanaro, UCLA’s highly touted left-hander, finally was making his first start of the season.

Zancanaro, a junior from Carmichael, Calif., had spent the first 25 games of the season splitting time among the outfield, designated-hitter and the Bruin bullpen--much to the consternation of scouts who project him as a top-round draft choice as a pitcher.

Injuries to Mike Fyhrie and John Sutherland forced UCLA Coach Gary Adams’ hand and Zancanaro did not disappoint, pitching five shutout innings to earn the win as UCLA defeated Northridge, 11-4, in a nonconference game.

The Bruins, ranked 14th in Division I by Baseball America magazine, improved to 18-8 overall and 14-1 in nonconference games. Northridge is 12-11.

“I would have been happy to continue as a reliever,” said Zancanaro, who allowed two hits and a walk before giving way to right-hander Michael Vdovkin. “But I was getting tired playing in the field for eight innings and then having to come in and pitch.

“I think this is going to work out for the best.”

UCLA shortstop Mike Hankins, who helped the Bruins avoid a three-game sweep against USC last Sunday when he homered in the bottom of the 11th inning, had another big game.

Hankins, a senior from Simi Valley, had three hits and five runs batted in, including a run-scoring single in the fourth off starter Vale Lopez (3-4) and a two-run double in the seventh and a two-run single in the eighth off reliever John Bushart.

“I know a lot of their players and I guess I just like hitting off them,” said Hankins, who had six RBIs in a game against Northridge in 1988. “I don’t know what it is, I just feel comfortable at the plate.”

UCLA scored its first run against the Matadors in the third inning.

Chris Pritchett, batting .362, led off with a single, advanced to second when Paul Ellis was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a groundout by John Glantz. Pritchett scored on a single by David Tokheim.

UCLA scored the first of two runs in the fourth on consecutive one-out singles by Mannie Adams, Robbie Katzaroff and Hankins. Lopez hit Ellis with a pitch to load the bases, then hit Glantz to force in Katzaroff from third.

The Bruins went ahead, 4-0, in the fifth on a wind-blown double to left by Katzaroff that drove in Michael Moore, who had reached base on a one-out single and stole second.

Northridge scored its first run in the seventh when Scott Richardson singled, moved to third on consecutive hit-batsmen, and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by J. D. Haendiges.

The Matadors added three more in the eighth on an RBI single by Richardson and a two-run double by Kyle Washington.