Beer Taps Moorpark for 6-3 Win

The College of the Canyons baseball team, ranked No. 2 in Southern California, defeated Moorpark College on Thursday, 6-3.

Canyons, the state runner-up last season, held Moorpark scoreless through five innings. It was just the improvement that Canyons Coach Mike Gillespie was looking for.

“Our number one concern this year was our defense,” Gillespie said. “One thing that has made a difference has been the play of Don Erickson. He’s only made two errors in 11 games.”

Though it was playing at home, Moorpark wasn’t given much of a chance at the plate. Darren Beer pitched eight innings for Canyons, striking out seven while allowing eight hits and three runs. Beer, who held the Raiders to two hits through the first five innings, has walked only two batters in 24 innings.

“There’s nobody anywhere that can throw like him,” said Gillespie, whose team is 9-2. “His big thing is that he can throw breaking balls for strikes.”

Alex Vasquez opened the second inning for Canyons by flying out to center field, but the next three batters scored. Scott Drury singled to right field and advanced to second when John Gleason hit Victor Sotelo with a pitch. That brought up Chris Cota, who homered over the left-field wall. It was his first extra-base hit of the season.

Moorpark scored one run in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but failed to capitalize in key situations.