SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS : Beer Throws a Five-Hitter as Canyons Tops Long Beach in Tournament Opener

Pitcher Darrin Beer scattered five hits over nine innings to win his second game Thursday as College of the Canyons beat Long Beach City, 4-1, in the first round of the Casey Stengal tournament at Rancho Santiago College.

Beer had four strikeouts and walked none. Canyons, ranked No. 4 in Southern California, will play at No. 3 Rancho Santiago today at 10 a.m. in the second round.

Right fielder Chris Cota had two runs batted in on two singles for the Cougars and second baseman Victor Sotelo was 2 for 4, both doubles, and had one RBI. Bob Clark was 2 for 3 with a double for Canyons.

Third baseman Andy Cutchall hit a solo home run for Canyons (4-1). Long Beach (2-3) is ranked No. 5 in Southern California.

College Baseball

Azusa Pacific 20, The Master’s College 7--The Cougars rocked three pitchers from The Master’s for 20 hits, including five home runs, at Azusa Pacific (1-9-1) to win their NAIA District 3 conference opener.

John Nero led the assault for the Cougars, with a double, a home run, a single and three RBIs in four at bats.

Tony Dello stroked three singles in five trips for the Mustangs.

The Master’s is 3-9 overall and 0-3 in conference.

Junior College Baseball

Rancho Santiago 6, Valley 1--Valley dropped its first game of the Casey Stengal tournament to No. 3-ranked Rancho Santiago.

Pitcher Mike Schwabe won his second game with an eight-hitter. Rancho Santiago had 10 hits against three Valley pitchers as it improved its non-conference record to 5-0.

Valley (4-3) had five errors, including two in Rancho Santiago’s four-run second inning. The Monarchs scored their run in the first when Dan Silvera scored from second on a single by Sal Villasenor. Chris Haslock was 2 for 4 at the plate for Valley, which is ranked No. 12 in Southern California.

The Monarchs will play Long Beach today at 10 a.m. at Long Beach City College.

Junior College Softball

Moorpark 8, Ventura 0--Pitcher Jill McAuley allowed only three hits as Moorpark College evened its Western State Conference record at 1-1.

Judy Fitzgerald ripped Ventura College for two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. Teammate Jeana Verhey had two hits and scored two runs.

Moorpark, the two-time defending conference champions, will play in the Bakersfield Classic starting today.

High School Baseball

Santa Monica 4, Crespi 0--Pat O’Hara hit a two-run home run and Paul Farkas went the distance as Santa Monica shut out Crespi at the El Segundo Tournament.

Despite playing on its home field, Santa Monica came to the plate first. The Vikings (2-1) responded with three runs off losing pitcher Pat Berlfern. O’Hara’s homer capped the inning.

Farkas limited the Celts to five hits, while striking out seven. Berlfern was relieved in the sixth inning after giving up all five Santa Monica hits.

St. Genevieve 6, Harvard 5--Three players had two hits apiece to lead St. Genevieve to the nonleague victory.

St. Genevieve catcher Frankie Aguirre had two singles and two RBIs. Alfonso Gutierrez and Danny Brown each had one RBI to go with their two hits.

The Valiants scored two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-3 lead and then hung on for the win. Mike Rohrbough relieved Hector Ruiz in the fifth and was the winning pitcher for St. Genevieve (1-1). Harvard is 1-2.

Buena 12, Thousand Oaks 4--Five errors contributed to the Thousand Oaks loss in the consolation bracket of the Ventura tournament.

Buena’s Rob Valasquez was the winning pitcher, and teammate Mike Mollinado had a double, 3 singles and 3 RBIs. Buena (3-1) had 15 hits.

Rob McDaniel had two hits for Thousand Oaks (2-2).

Simi Valley 7, North Torrance 2--Scott Radinsky fired a one-hitter and had 15 strikeouts to lead Simi Valley (2-0) in the El Segundo Tournament.

Dave Milstien and Duane Mulville each went 2 for 4 to lead the Pioneers’ offense. Milstien homered, tripled and scored two runs. Mulville had two RBIs on a double and a triple.

Simi Valley advances to play Santa Monica Saturday at a site to be determined later.

North Torance is 0-2.

Ventura 5, Newbury Park 5--Ventura banged out 11 hits, but committed five errors as the game was called because of darkness after nine innings.

Loyd Wood was 3 for 5 for the Panthers, including a double and two RBIs.

A make-up doubleheader will be played March 8.

Hart 2, Westlake 0--Senior Tim Needin struck out 11 Warriors en route to a no-hitter in the season opener for both teams.

The only run Needin needed came in the first inning, when Jim Bonds singled to right field, went to second on an error and scored when Westlake’s errant pick-off throw bounced into center field.

Westlake pitcher Brad Gossen gave up only three hits, but took the loss.

High School Softball

Burroughs 11, Notre Dame 0--Indians’ pitcher Christy Alves struck out 18 batters and posted a no-hitter in a nonleague victory at Olive Park.

Jacqie DeLange led Burroughs (2-0) with three hits and four RBIs, and Dina Larson added three RBIs.

The Indians did all of their damage in the third and sixth innings, when they scored six and five runs, respectively.

Notre Dame is 0-1.

High School Track

Notre Dame 71, Burroughs 56--Brendon Cowles won three events as the Knights won in their first preseason meet.

Cowles registered victories in the 330 yard intermediate hurdles (41.9), the 110 yard high hurdles (15.5) and the long jump (20-4).

Burroughs’ Javier Primera took first place in the 880 yard run (202.9) and the two-mile run (10:42).

The Notre Dame girls beat the Indians, 62-56, despite a middle distance sweep by Rose Olverio of Burroughs.

Olverio won the 220 (28.1), the 440 (102.8), and the 880 (228.3).

Notre Dame was led by Vicki Hosek, who paced the field in the mile run (5:42), and was a member of the wiining mile relay team.