Slugging seventh key for GCC

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — In a game that began as a pitchers' duel and sustained that identity for the better part of six innings, Thursday afternoon's Western State Conference Southern Division tilt was decided by a pair of big innings.

And host Glendale Community College's big inning was decidedly larger than Pierce's, as the Vaqueros exploded for seven runs in their half of the seventh en route to an 8-3 conference win over the Brahmas at Stengel Field.

"I think it was just one of those breaking-point innings and we came out on top," said GCC designated hitter Myles Neimeyer, who had two hits, scored a pair of runs and delivered a bases-loaded double for all three of his runs batted in during the critical seventh. "We just did the little things right all game."

With the win — which saw GCC bang out nine hits — the Vaqueros have now won three of their last four and evened their conference mark at 3-3 with an overall record of 12-7.

"We're just starting to come together as one team," Neimeyer said.

Though he didn't factor in the decision, GCC starter Thomas Korn, who brought a 3-0 record into the game, kept Pierce (9-9, 2-4 in conference) off the scoreboard for the first five innings before the Brahmas used three straight one-out, extra-base hits to plate two runs in the sixth to go ahead, 2-1. But that was as big an inning as the Brahmas could muster, as Korn stranded two on base to end the stanza.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh, the Vaqueros' previously bottled-up offense burst with four singles, Neimeyer's double, a walk and a hit batter to ultimately decide the game.

"That's huge as far as character's concerned," said GCC Coach Chris Cicuto, whose team began its year at 9-2, but went 2-5 to follow, including a four-game losing streak. "We just kept on plugging away, plugging away and good things ended up happening."

Korn was economical through the first five innings, tossing just 55 pitches, including an eight-pitch second inning and a five-pitch fifth. He danced through a spot of trouble in the fourth when he gave up a leadoff single and another runner reached on an error. But a diving catch by left fielder Chris Stroh, one in which he completely extended himself, ended the inning and kept Glendale ahead, 1-0.