COLLEGE BASEBALL DAILY PLAYOFF REPORT : PIERCE : Martinez Makes Uncharacteristic Miscues

If an observer of the Western State Conference were asked to name the league’s best defensive outfielder, chances are that Pierce sophomore Erik Martinez would be mentioned.

Martinez, an all-conference choice who has been offered a scholarship to Pepperdine, often is referred to as a “highlight show” by Pierce Coach Bob Lofrano.

But in Friday’s 6-4 loss to Sacramento City, Martinez proved that even the best can occasionally stumble when he lost two key fly balls in center.

“For two years those have been F-8s,” Lofrano said of the fly balls that led to unearned runs in the sixth and seventh to draw Sacramento within 4-3. “Today they were E-8s. It’s so disappointing (because) Erik doesn’t drop fly balls.”