Pierce’s Revival in Conference Play Continues in 11-3 Win

Past shortcomings had little influence on the Pierce College baseball team in an 11-3 Western State Conference victory over Valley on Thursday.

Pierce (9-10, 2-4 in conference play) lost its first four conference games but has apparently done an about-face: Thursday’s win was its second in a row. And the visiting Brahmas did it with the help of a seven-hit, five-run sixth inning.

Pierce victimized Valley freshman Mitch Cizek, who pitched a complete game in Kennedy High’s win over Palisades in the City Section 4-A Division championship last year. Cizek came on in relief of starter Todd Carroll to begin the sixth inning and faced four batters, giving up four runs on four hits, including doubles to Mike Vanacone and Tony Jordan.

Mike Roberts, another veteran of the City 4-A title game, then spelled Cizek. Roberts, who earned the save for Canoga Park in the 1987 4-A title game, didn’t fare much better, surrendering three consecutive singles and another run before retiring the side.

Left-hander Kurt Lowry (5-3), a converted first baseman, went the distance for Pierce, scattering seven hits and holding Valley scoreless through eight innings.

“I felt kind of funky out there and couldn’t get my rhythm,” Lowry said. “I had to hit my spots because I know that I’m not going to blow anything by anyone.”

Pierce added two more runs in the ninth. Carl McFadden hit a pinch-hit home run to left field and Jim Wolf scored after reaching base on a single.

“We haven’t had any hitting and we’ve been stranding a lot of runners,” said Bob Lyons, who co-coaches the Pierce team along with Bob Lofrano. “But today everything seemed to fall into place.”

On Wednesday, Pierce left eight runners on base but balanced that with an 18-hit attack.

Damon Lantz (three for three) drove in three runs, two on a fifth-inning home run that gave Pierce a 4-0 advantage. Pat Huston (two for four) also had two RBIs on a single and a double.

“We’ve haven’t been performing and are at the low point of our season,” Valley Coach Chris Johnson said of the Monarchs, who dropped to 6-13-2, 2-4 in conference play.

“Hopefully, this will be the lowest part and we won’t go down any further. It’s been pretty much Murphy’s Law. Whatever could go wrong has.”

Valley scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to avoid the shutout, two coming on a two-out triple by Vladimir Pajcin.

Mike Schwartzer stole three bases for Pierce, which had five in the game.