Cloney Pitches Cougars Past LA Valley
College of the Canyons freshman left hander Joseph Cloney pitched eight innings, striking out a career-high 12 batters and giving up only three hits, while catcher Justin Russell went 3-of-4 to post a 6-1 victory over LA Valley College on Thursday afternoon at Cougar Field.
April 3, 2014
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – College of the Canyons freshman left hander Joseph Cloney pitched eight innings, striking out a career-high 12 batters and giving up only three hits, while catcher Justin Russell went 3-of-4 to post a 6-1 victory over LA Valley College on Thursday afternoon at Cougar Field.
With the win, the Cougars improve their record to 14-12-1 and 10-4 in conference play, while the Monarchs fall to 11-14 and 5-9 in the WSC. Canyons also keeps pace with Glendale College, as the two teams are now tied for second place.
Cloney (6-2) making his ninth start of the season, allowed only one earned run on three hits. Relief pitcher Julien Garcia tossed the final inning of the game, earning his first save of the season.
Russell finished the day 3-of-4 with a double and Roberto Ramos had two RBIs and a walk in the win.
Jose Haros started the scoring for COC in the first, turning in a single, advancing to second on a David Oppenheim single and moving to third on a walk, before crossing the plate on Dylan Freyre's sacrifice.
The Cougars added two more runs and improved their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Nick Vigo and Haros garnered walks to start off the third inning and Ramos drove the two in on a two-RBI single down the left line.
COC collected two more runs to take a 5-0 advantage after four inning of play. Canyons loaded the bases and a LA Valley passed ball brought one runner home. Vigo hit a sacrifice on the following at-bat, allowing one more runner to cross the plate.
Valley posted its only run of the game in the fifth inning on a solo home run.
Oppenheim turned in one more run in the seventh, allowing the Cougars to go up 6-1 on the Monarchs. Austin Cole began the inning with a bunt, before moving to second on a sacrifice and to third on a Haros' single. Oppenheim hit a sacrifice in the next at-bat, allowing Cole to score.
The Cougars will travel to LA Valley on Saturday, April 5 for a 1 p.m. game.
Russell finished the day 3-of-4 with a double and Roberto Ramos had two RBIs and a walk in the win.
Jose Haros started the scoring for COC in the first, turning in a single, advancing to second on a David Oppenheim single and moving to third on a walk, before crossing the plate on Dylan Freyre's sacrifice.
The Cougars added two more runs and improved their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Nick Vigo and Haros garnered walks to start off the third inning and Ramos drove the two in on a two-RBI single down the left line.
COC collected two more runs to take a 5-0 advantage after four inning of play. Canyons loaded the bases and a LA Valley passed ball brought one runner home. Vigo hit a sacrifice on the following at-bat, allowing one more runner to cross the plate.
Valley posted its only run of the game in the fifth inning on a solo home run.
Oppenheim turned in one more run in the seventh, allowing the Cougars to go up 6-1 on the Monarchs. Austin Cole began the inning with a bunt, before moving to second on a sacrifice and to third on a Haros' single. Oppenheim hit a sacrifice in the next at-bat, allowing Cole to score.
The Cougars will travel to LA Valley on Saturday, April 5 for a 1 p.m. game.