Moorpark’s Johnson Has Right Stuff in 7-3 Victory

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. —  Erik Johnson dislikes pitching. Good thing for Moorpark’s Little League team he dislikes losing even more.

Johnson, Moorpark’s best hitter but one of six pitching candidates, told pitching coach Gary Sharpe he wanted the ball Tuesday against Marshalltown, Iowa, in the second round of the Little League World Series. Sharpe gave him the ball and Johnson pitched it over 70 mph at times in a 7-3 victory before 4,500.

Moorpark, 1-1 in the Series, plays Panama City, Fla., today in the final round of pool play. The top two U.S teams advance to the national championship game Thursday.

Johnson has always made it known he would rather not pitch, but after Moorpark’s 5-1 loss to Cranston, R.I., Monday, he decided to swallow hard.

“I wanted to come to Williamsport all my life,” he said. “This was a do-or-die game and I am a clutch player. I’m not real comfortable pitching and I don’t think I’ll pitch at a higher level, but it was time.”

Combining a lively fastball with a good change-up, the 5-foot-10 Johnson struck out 13 and gave up three hits. He walked six--all in the last three innings--but struck out the side in the second, fifth and sixth.

“He is the fastest pitcher we’ve seen, and our five-through-nine hitters couldn’t catch up with him at all,” Marshalltown Manager Brad Clement said.

Johnson’s fastest pitch was clocked at 73 mph, the equivalent of 91 mph from the regulation mound distance of 60 feet 6 inches.