BEVERLY HILLS : Prep Pitcher D.J. Sutton Chooses Pierce College Over Valley, Harbor

Pitcher D.J. Sutton, who helped Beverly Hills High win the Bay League title this year, said Friday that he will attend Pierce College.

Sutton said he chose Pierce over Valley and Harbor colleges because “it’s a great school from a baseball perspective,” and that it was not too far from or too close to his Beverly Hills home.

Sutton, selected by the Dodgers in this month’s amateur draft, said he needs to add 30 pounds to his 6-foot-1, 150-pound frame to help improve his chances of playing professionally.

“I need to build my legs up and I’ll do a lot of running and lifting to do that,” Sutton said.

Sutton was 10-1 with a 0.72 earned-run average this season and earned first-team All-Southern Section 5-A Division honors. Sutton’s only loss was against Katella, 2-1, in a first-round playoff game.

Sutton was 18-3 in two seasons with the Normans and had a career varsity record of 28-6, including a 10-3 record as a freshman at Crossroads High in 1988.

“He has a lot of poise on the mound, confidence and ability to put the ball where he wants,” Pierce Coach Bob Lofrano said. “Those are great qualities. I think that’s why he’s been successful.

“Now he’s going to the next level, where the game is faster and the players hit harder, run faster and pitch harder. I’m sure he’ll make a successful transition.”