Bakersfield Rakes Over Valley, 11-6

With a rake at the end of his pitching arm and a dejected look on his face, Clint Marcus dragged the dirt as he tidied up the pitching mound Saturday at Valley College.

Perhaps he was just trying to cover his tracks. Or just digging for answers.

Either way, it was lonely labor for Marcus, who had just been worked over by Bakersfield, which won its seventh consecutive game by beating Valley, 11-6, in a Western State Conference South Division baseball game.

Marcus (2-3) allowed 10 runs, all earned, in five-plus innings as Bakersfield jumped to an 11-2 lead. The sophomore left-hander yielded 12 hits, walked six, hit a batter and allowed Bakersfield to score in each of the first six innings.

After suffering a broken left thumb in the off-season, Marcus has been consistently inconsistent this season, a struggle that has left him mystified and the Monarchs with a hole in their pitching staff.

“I take full responsibility for that,” he said. “At times I was fine today. At other times, the ball wasn’t going where I wanted it to. I’m confused.”

Valley Coach Chris Johnson isn’t. Marcus is suffering from a crisis in confidence, Johnson said.

“He’s struggling and he doesn’t feel good on the mound,” Johnson said. “He’s got good stuff and he’s not a soft kid. He’s just going through a confidence lull.”

Bakersfield is having no such problem. Even without leading hitter Darren Dyt, sidelined by a broken thumb, the Renegades (15-5, 6-0 in division play) had five extra-base hits, including three triples.

Danny Gonzalez and Gary Keller each tripled and had three hits.

Sophomore right-hander Brian McDowell (2-0) went the distance despite allowing 11 hits. He struck out five and walked none.

Chris Butler had three hits, and Steve Zorn and Chris Portugal each had two for Valley (6-12, 3-3).