Welles Carries Clout in Pierce’s Series-Clinching Win

The Pierce College baseball team was sputtering along and looking for someone to step to the forefront Saturday when Brahma designated-hitter Robby Welles abruptly ended the search with two swings.

Welles, an All-Western State Conference selection, blasted two prodigious home runs and finished with five runs batted in as the Brahmas overcame an early three-run deficit to beat San Bernardino Valley, 9-5, and wrap up the best-of-three first-round series of the Southern California junior college regional at Pierce.

The Brahmas rallied from an eight-run deficit in Friday’s opener before prevailing, 12-11.

“Somebody has to step forward at this time of the year,” Pierce Coach Bob Lofrano said. “And today, Welles really stepped forward.”

In doing so, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound sophomore from Beverly Hills High helped top-seeded Pierce (30-6-1) advance to the regional finals beginning next week at Pierce.

San Bernardino Valley, seeded 16th, ends its season at 21-18.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to Welles,” San Bernardino Valley Coach Bill Mierzwik said. “Going in, we said, ‘don’t let him beat us,’ and today he did.”

In the top of the fifth inning, with Pierce trailing, 4-1, Brahma leadoff batter Erik Martinez reached first on an error by Indian shortstop Jeff Acuna. After a strikeout, Jason Cohen walked and Brian Smith flied to right to put runners at the corners.

Up stepped Welles who had grounded into an inning-ending double play in the first with the bases loaded.

Facing a full count against left-hander Chris Lockman (5-7), Welles hit a majestic drive over the fence in left that traveled an estimated 400 feet.

“It was two strikes and I had been trying to hit the (ball) out,” Welles said. “So I said, ‘I’ll try to cut my swing down.’ ”

The Brahmas took the lead for good an inning later on Martinez’s run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly by Joey Arnold.

Welles, who went three for five, including his 12th and 13th homers, made it 9-4 in the ninth when he followed an RBI single by Smith with a two-run homer on a line over the 390-foot sign in dead center.

San Bernardino Valley added a run in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough to keep Pierce right-hander Eric Raba from improving to 11-0.

Though he yielded 11 hits and five earned runs, Raba never lost his composure. He worked 8 2/3 innings, walked three and struck out four. Paul Geller recorded the final out.