Pitchers Vanish as Moorpark Outslugs Pierce

They are going to have to issue an all-points bulletin for Western State Conference pitchers if things keep going at this rate.

In another slugfest, Moorpark outlasted host Pierce, 13-10, in a game Thursday that featured 30 hits, eight walks and 42 baserunners.

Several conference game-winners--even losers--have totaled double digits this season. “It’s almost like it’s a disease in the whole league,” Pierce Coach Bob Lofrano said. “They are just ugly games. They are 3 1/2 hours long and whoever has the ball last wins it.”

There was nothing pretty for Pierce (9-9, 7-6 in conference play) in the first inning, when Moorpark (8-11-1, 5-7-1) sent 12 men to the plate and scored eight runs.

Center fielder Daryl Hernandez smacked the first pitch from freshman right-hander Steve Pack into left field for a single, and catcher Steve Bernstein followed with a bunt single down the third-base line. That brought up shortstop Brian Vasey, who rode a fastball over the center-field fence. Three batters, three hits, three runs.

Moorpark scored twice more before Pack (2-2) was relieved by Tony Dellamano. The right-hander walked the first two batters he faced, loading the bases, then served up a grand slam to Hernandez on a full count that gave the Raiders their biggest single-inning production of the season.

“We were really fortunate that we hit some balls in some key situations,” Moorpark Coach Ken Wagner said. “We are just trying to battle our way back (into the conference race).”

The Brahmas rallied for four runs in the bottom of the second, aided by a two-out, two-run error by left-fielder Trent Martin, who dropped Herman Merchan’s fly ball.

Pierce scored two more in the fifth and chased Moorpark starter Lee Speshyock (4-0) with four more in the seventh before left-hander Scott Barkman restored order. Barkman, who allowed two hits in 2 1/3 innings, picked up Moorpark’s first save of the season.

Bernstein was three for six with two RBIs, and Aaron Fischer and Tom Anderson each had two hits for Moorpark. Pierce third baseman Louis Tapia went three for five and left-fielder Kevin Milligan had three hits and three RBIs.

“To score 10 runs and lose,” Lofrano said. “Ten runs is an awful lot (to score) and not to win.”