Valley Star

Issue date: 3/16/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Greg Burmann Greg Burmann / Valley Star SEEING DOUBLE - Valley Shortstop Miguel Gomez goes for the double play.

It might have taken until the sixth inning, but the Monarchs' bats came alive and scored 12 runs in the final few innings to give the team a 15-12 victory over Pierce College Saturday.

"We were waiting for the right moment to start hitting," said outfielder DJ Lewis. "Once we start scoring, no one can stop us."

While the defense didn't have its best day, the Monarchs' offense pulled the team out of the proverbial ditch.

Matt Jordan started the Monarchs' offense with his double in the sixth inning. Derk Walker followed Jordan's lead with his own double. The Monarchs added three runs in the sixth to cut Pierce's lead to 8-6.

In the seventh, the Brahmas' pitcher allowed five walks and three hits, including Walker's second double. The five-run seventh inning gave the Monarchs an 11-10 lead.

"We were just waiting for the time to come," said infielder Robert Ninfo. "We stepped up at the right moment when it came."

Lewis started the eighth inning with a double, which was followed by Raul Perez's double, giving the Monarchs its 15-12 lead.

During the last two innings, pitcher Eddie Baeza struck out five batters and only allowed two hits to preserve the win for the Monarchs.

"We had lots of confidence from the beginning," said Baeza. "We came out as a team and finished it as a team."

"This was a very typical junior college [baseball] game," Head Coach Dave Mallas said. "We had some great hits today."

The Monarchs played Thursday at Citrus College. Their next home game is on Saturday March 19 against Citrus.

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