Canyons Can’t Weather Pierce

It was windy and chilly Thursday at Pierce College, but the Brahmas are not cooling off one bit.

Pierce tightened the race in the Western State Conference South Division with an 8-2 victory over front-runner Canyons, narrowing the Cougars’ lead to 1 1/2 games.

The Brahmas (22-10) improved to 12-6 in WSC play by defeating Canyons (19-16, 14-5) for the second time in three meetings this season. Pierce has eight games remaining, Canyons seven. The teams face each other for the last time, April 30 at Canyons.

The Brahmas have won eight of their last 11. Their last loss to a South Division team came against Canyons, 14-1, on March 16.

“We just want to make sure they are aware of us,” said Bob Lofrano, Pierce coach.

Sophomore left-hander Keith Reed (7-3) definitely made an impression on the Cougars, giving up five hits in eight innings, striking out four and walking two.

Reed, who did not allow a hit after the fourth inning, kept his pitches low in the strike zone and was helped by two double plays--the Brahmas turned another one in the ninth--and two outstanding catches in the outfield.

The first fielding gem came with nobody out, a runner at first base and Pierce ahead, 5-2, in the sixth inning.

Justin Bunch sent a long fly ball to right-center field that center fielder Casey Cote flagged down on the run just short of the fence.

With one out in the eighth, Gabby Halcovich ripped a liner to left field that Casey Doherty gloved with a backhand diving catch.

“That catch in center field was a hell of a play but Reed was in pretty good command,” said Len Mohney, Canyons coach. “[The race] is getting a little tighter.”

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Kasey Canale double and Bunch’s two-out single to center field, but the Brahmas sent seven men to the plate against Chris Baker (5-5) in the bottom half of the inning to move on top, 3-1.

Mike Glendenning tripled home the first run and scored on Carlos Nunez’s bunt single to the first-base side of the mound. Nunez later scored on a fielder’s choice by Brandon Murphy.

Canyons closed the gap to 3-2 on Rick Nadeau’s sacrifice fly to center with the bases loaded but Pierce pushed two more across in the fifth when third baseman Canale booted Glendenning’s bases-loaded grounder.

Right-hander Harry Kenoi, a freshman from Chatsworth High, worked a scoreless ninth inning for the Brahmas. It was his 25th appearance of the season, including outings in 14th consecutive games.