Anderson, Vigilantes Get a Boost
It was hard to tell who needed the Vigilantes’ 8-1 victory Monday over Sonoma County the most--Mission Viejo or starter Paul Anderson.
The Vigilante right-hander, with only one victory in his previous eight starts and winless since June 8, shut out the visitors for 6 2/3 innings in his best outing of the 1997 season.
“This was the Paul Anderson we saw last year,” said Vigilante catcher Eric Brooks, who homered in the third. “He had a great fastball, his splitter was also working and he mixed up his pitches well.”
“I’m back,” said Anderson (2-5), who went seven innings and gave up nine hits, struck out five and walked none.
“The main thing was I gave 100% on every pitch tonight. Before I had been doing about 95%, and that missing 5% was making a difference.”
In front of an announced crowd of 2,332 at Saddleback College, Anderson’s teammates made it easy for him.
They shelled Sonoma starter Tony Coscia (2-3) for eight runs and 10 of their 13 hits in four innings. Sam Taylor, who had a five-RBI game against the Crushers on Sunday, drove in three more runs with his 11th homer, a single and a sacrifice fly. Alan Burke hit his 11th home run, and had two RBIs, raising his team-leading total to 39.
The Vigilantes scored twice in the first on a sacrifice fly by Taylor and a fielder’s choice by Reuben Smiley with the bases loaded.
In the second, Mission Viejo strung four singles for its third run. Taylor dropped a soft single into center to score Corey Parker.
Burke followed with a sacrifice fly to right, and Bret Barberie whistled a liner to center to boost the Vigilantes lead to 5-0.
Vigilante Notes
Mission Viejo will sign Cobi Cradle today, General Manager Paula Pyers said. Cradle, who had retired after last year, was the team’s leadoff hitter and center fielder when the franchise was in Long Beach. . . . Brad Lesley said other roster moves will include pitcher Mark Tranberg and outfielder Lonnie Stare being released. Tranberg is leaving to join the Mercury Tigers in Taiwan. His release is conditional; when he returns to the U.S., his rights revert back to the Vigilantes. Although Stare got into Monday’s game as a defensive replacement and got a hit, his injured foot has kept him from playing regularly. . . . The costume for the team mascot, known as the Varmit, is missing and officials are asking for the public’s help in recovering it. Anyone with information is asked to call (714) 699-1616.