JC BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Pierce Gives Mt. SAC Rudimentary Awakening

Basically, the whole thing boiled down to fundamentals. Or lack thereof.

Pierce College produced several clutch hits, took advantage of some costly errors by Mt. San Antonio and eliminated the Mounties, 8-1, in the first round of the Southern California regional on Saturday at Pierce.

The Brahmas (27-16) won the best-of-three series, 2-0. The four-team, double-elimination second round will be played Friday through Sunday at Rancho Santiago.

“We’re definitely playing well at the right time of the year,” Pierce Coach Bob Lofrano said.

That’s for sure. The Brahmas started the year 2-10, but caught fire going into Western State Conference play and have won 10 consecutive games. They achieved much of that success because of solid pitching, which again was splendid Saturday.

Right-hander Jim DeBiase (6-2) scattered two hits over six innings, struck out four and walked none before leaving with a shoulder cramp suffered while warming up for the seventh.

DeBiase gave up a single in the first and a triple in the fourth, both by Chris Woodward, but was otherwise perfect. Besides the hits, DeBiase allowed one ball out of the infield in the first five innings.

Closer Brandon Nickens worked the final two innings.

The Mounties (31-13) countered with ace Ralph Cadima (9-1), and the hard-throwing right-hander kept Pierce silent for four innings.

But Pierce got to Cadima with three runs in the fifth. Carlos Nunez scored the third run from third base when catcher Brian Lange’s pickoff throw sailed into left field.

Another miscue contributed to a run that gave Pierce a 5-0 lead after six.

With John Novak at second and two out, Casey Cote hit a grounder that first baseman Joe Hernandez threw past Cadima, who was covering the bag. The wild throw, the third of four Mt. SAC errors, scored Novak.

“We’ve been a good defensive club all season,” Mt. SAC Coach Art Mazmanian said. “We averaged just over one error a game.”

The Brahmas, on the other hand, capitalized on their speed (four stolen bases) and quickness to give Lange a hard time.

Second baseman Cesar Martinez came up with a back-handed diving stop to throw out a runner in the seventh and center fielder Jeff Astgen, who had seven putouts Friday, caught a sinking line drive to end the eighth.

“We knew we had to stop their running. We called for pitchouts,” Mazmanian said. “We did not do a good job stopping that part of their game.”

The Brahmas sent Cadima to the bench with three runs in the seventh.

Astgen singled with one out and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored moments later on another wild pitch.

Jeff Shapiro then tripled to left-center field with two out. Novak knocked him in with a single and then stole second. Left-handed Danny Ornelas relieved Cadima and Dave Cipolla greeted him with a single to center that scored Novak.

The Mounties scored in the seventh when Tony Campbell took second on a passed ball and scored on a double by Jeff Simpson.

*

Cypress 4, Moorpark 1--Pete Lythgoe (5-5) gave up one run on four hits over seven innings and struck out 10 to eliminate the Raiders.

Ara Petrosian pitched the final two innings for his fifth save.

Mark Selway had two hits, including his second home run, and Jeff Pickler added two hits, scored a run and drove in another for Cypress, the defending state champion.

Moorpark, which lost the first game of the series, 8-4, on Friday, finished 27-15.

Cypress improved to 32-13-1.