AUSTIN TOERNER TURNS OFF THE LIGHTS ON LOS ANGELES VALLEY

By MATTHEW ROBINSON

The Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs were already mathematically eliminated three days ago by virtue of a 7-3 loss to the Bakersfield Renegades up in Kern County. And today, like someone rubbing Noxzema™ onto a pimple, the Renegades rubbed the Monarchs' dead playoff hopes right in their faces in a 7-3 road victory.

Renegades pitcher AUSTIN TOERNER who started today for the Gades, came into this game with a 4.97 ERA. But today, the Monarchs only scored two runs on his watch. So, Toerner's day looked like this: 6⅔ innings worth of work, 2 earned runs and 6 hits.

Meanwhile, Toerner was able to garner this victory when fellow pitcher CYRUS PARSONS struck out Monarch utility man NICK ACOSTA which ended the game.

With this win, the Renegades move up to second place in the Western State South Conference. They also were able to attain that place in the conference due to College of the Canyons' 6-5 loss to Glendale today.

Monarch left handed pitcher FELIPE HERNANDEZ who started the game for the Monarchs, had a devil of a time with the Renegades' batting lineup. The Gades' sliced and diced Hernandez like a gourmet chef, especially in the third and fourth innings. Today, he worked five innings, allowed six hits, and 4 runs.

Hernandez was replaced by sophomore GRAHAM MEKIJIAN who worked just one inning (sixth inning). In that one inning of work he allowed no hits and no runs.

A sacrifice bunt sent HARRISON SMITH home to give the Renegades a 1-0 lead at the top of the second inning. A base hit by BROOKS DOUGLASS to left field, scored JACOB HERRERA and TYSON BREWER to give the Gades a 3-0 lead in the same inning.

The Monarchs showed a pulse in third inning, when AUSTIN OBREGON mustered up a double off the center field wall that scored ANGEL ROMAN for a 3-1 score.

But the Gades countered with a JASSEN OLIVER left field hit that scored another run for his team, which gave them a 4-1 lead at the top of the fourth inning.

Three innings later, the Gades were well on their way to putting away the Monarchs when KYLE JAMES, BROCK HALLUM, and Herrera took care of RBI's that moved the score to 7-1 in the top of the seventh inning.

The Monarchs tried to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning with two RBI's by DYLAN MERSOLA and JOEY HADDAD, but by then the Monarchs were toast. Because the Gades' pitching staff which included JASON POTTER and Parsons, were well on their way to shutting the door on any day dreams the Monarchs had about making a rally.

The Monarchs close the 2016 season with a three-game stand against the Los Angeles Mission College Eagles on April 26, April 28, and April 29.