Cohen Breaks Streak in 9-4 Victory

Fresh off seven innings as Calabasas High’s catcher in Monday’s victory over Santa Paula, Brandon Cohen pitched the Coyotes to a 9-4 Frontier League victory over Moorpark on Tuesday.

Calabasas (10-0, 6-0), ranked No. 4 by The Times, used Cohen’s arm and slipshod fielding by Moorpark to record its fourth victory in five days.

Cohen (4-0) went the distance, striking out seven, walking none and allowing three earned runs on six hits.

A senior who played third base as a sophomore and catcher as a junior, Cohen has split time on either end of the Calabasas battery this season.

Tuesday, Cohen had his string of scoreless innings snapped at 20 when he surrendered a run in each of the first three innings.

Leading, 4-3, the Coyotes scored five runs in the sixth, only one of them earned, to give Cohen some breathing room.

“My arm was feeling fine but it wasn’t doing the job it usually does,” Cohen said. “I was disappointed to see the streak end but it went as far as it did because of great team defense.”

Across the diamond, Moorpark Coach Scott Fullerton bemoaned his team’s lack of fielding. The Musketeers (4-6, 3-3) committed six errors, three by second baseman Ben Hall, and wasted a gritty pitching performance by sophomore Justin Ames (3-2), who allowed only three earned runs and seven hits.

“Our defense had been real solid until today,” said Fullerton, who has only four players from last year’s league championship team.

“But against an outstanding team like Calabasas you’d better catch the ball when it comes to you.”

Calabasas scored a pair of unearned runs in the second on a bizarre play that began with Brent Niles on first and two out. Moorpark catcher Andy Huisenga and first baseman Erik Franco collided while chasing a pop up by Adam Davey. Niles reached third and Davey second on the play and both scored on a wild throw to second by Musketeer shortstop Travis Ehrlich.

Calabasas made Moorpark pay again in the sixth. With two out, a run in and Coyotes on second and third, Hall bobbled a grounder by Josh Harris and then threw the ball away, allowing two runs to score. Tanner Trosper hit a two-run homer on the next pitch.