Once-Bright Future of Saugus Getting Ever Bleaker, 4-0

When questioned recently about his team’s poor start in Foothill League play, Saugus High baseball Coach Doug Worley was not overly concerned.

After all, Worley reckoned, a couple of league losses was no reason to panic.

Well, the reasons are mounting.

The Centurions were held to two hits Friday in a 4-0 loss to visiting Canyon, the surprise leader in the league. The impact of the outcome was not lost on Worley.

“We want the kids to play loose but things are getting critical,” Worley said. “We have to start winning some league games.”

The loss left the Centurions with several questions--and problems:

* What has happened to the offense, thought to be among the team’s strengths entering the season?

* Why does Saugus seem to lack the execution for which Worley’s teams are known?

* With eight Foothill games remaining, Saugus (10-7, 0-4 in league play) is last and in danger of missing the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

* Starting pitcher Bobby Cowan--the ace of the staff--struggled again and is 2-5.

Things could not be better for the Cowboys (8-7, 4-0). In addition to being the lone undefeated team in league play, Canyon has beaten league favorites Hart and Saugus on the road.

“This is awfully nice,” Canyon Coach Scott Willis said. “But the kids know there is a lot more to play. They are not going to take it easy.”

Canyon took control in the fourth inning. With one out and the game scoreless, Chuck Schuster hit a 370-foot home run to straightaway center field off Cowan.

Cowan then walked Steve Bench and Sylvio Paz. Bench scored when center fielder Danny Cato bobbled the ball while attempting to field a single by Mike Kling. Ray Avalos drove in Paz with a single.

The Cowboys scored their final run in the fifth on an RBI single by Adam Vance.

Canyon starter Pat McDermott (2-2) pitched 5 1/3 strong innings for the win. Lucas Solomon escaped a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the sixth.