Crenshaw Is Looking to Moore Brothers : Baseball: Cougars hope that the tandem can be the nucleus that will fuel team’s return to a championship level.

It’s only been two years since the Crenshaw High baseball team played for the City Section 3-A Division title, but it seems like much longer.

Last season, the Cougars suffered a stunning, 7-6 first-round loss at home to City 3-A runner-up Huntington Park.

And this year, the Cougars (5-4-1) are struggling to find playoff form.

But despite Crenshaw’s sluggish start, brothers Tim and Todd Moore are confident that this could be the Cougars’ year.

“I believe we have a great chance to get back to the championship (game),” said Tim, a sophomore pitcher. “This team has a confidence that it didn’t have last season.”

It also has a solid core of hitters led by senior first baseman Todd Moore.

“This team is a lot better offensively than it was last year,” said Todd, who is batting .340 with a home run and 14 RBIs. “The defense needs work.”

The Cougars have been error-plagued this season, committing nearly three a game, which hasn’t helped Tim’s efforts from the mound.

“(Tim) has been shaky, but we make errors behind him,” said sixth-year coach Major Dennis.”

Tim was a godsend last season, going 4-1 with a 0.66 ERA and two shutouts as a freshman.

This season, he is 2-2 with a 4.08 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 24 innings.

“He isn’t concentrating like last year,” Dennis said. “But he is coming around and is still a great pitcher. I use him as a starter and stopper. He is one of our top pitchers.”

Both Tim and Todd are two of Crenshaw’s top players.

Todd began the season as a catcher before injuring his hip in a game against Banning.

Dennis then moved Todd to first base, where he replaced the original starter.

“Todd is an excellent catcher but an even better first baseman,” Dennis said. “He has power, discipline, adequate speed and good hands. The best part about him and his brother is that they have great attitudes.”

Probably because they’re used to receiving constructive criticism from one another.

“Having a brother helps because I know him better than anyone and I notice his bad habits and vice versa,” Tim said.

The Moore brothers carefully watched each other on the football field as well.

Tim, who is 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, played middle linebacker, while Todd (5-11, 230) was an All-City right guard.

“We can’t help each other out with techniques because we are on different sides of the ball,” said Todd, whose Cougars lost to Sylmar in the City 4-A football championship game. “But we both want to win regardless of what the sport is.”

If Crenshaw is to start winning regularly and recapture its past successes, the Cougars will have to rely on more than the Moores.

“We have a lot of talent but these guys have let teams back in games,” Dennis said. “We lost a 7-2 lead and tied (the score) and a 9-3 lead and lost. They need that killer instinct.”

Highlights--Leftfielder Cleo Cloman went 2 for 3 with a single and a two-run home run as Crenshaw beat Dorsey, 5-3, Wednesday. . .

Temo Lopez hit a double and triple, driving in two runs, to lead Bell over Locke, 7-0, Thursday. . .

Jesus Flores went 2 for 2 with four RBIs as Franklin downed Eagle Rock, 7-5, Thursday. . .

Pitcher Jose Robles had 11 strikeouts and improved to 2-1 as Manual Arts beat Los Angeles, 9-4, Thursday. . .

Pitcher Mike Martinez gave-up one hit and struck out four through 6 2/3 innings to lead South Gate to a narrow 2-1 win over Jefferson, Thursday.