SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : 2-A DIVISION : Agoura’s 14-Run Inning Beats Canyon

Agoura High scored 14 runs on six singles, two doubles, two home runs--including a grand slam--four walks and one hit batter in its opening-round victory in the Southern Section 2-A playoffs Friday at Agoura.

And that was just the sixth inning of its 22-9 route of Canyon.

Eighteen Chargers batted in the inning, highlighted not by Jon DeGennaro’s grand slam, but by a defensive play.

With the bases loaded, one out and the score tied at eight, Canyon’s pitcher Fred Rivera apparently attempted to pick Bobby Weer off third base. Acting as though the throw went wild, third baseman Gary Morgan started running down the line after the ball, which Rivera never threw.

Weer, fooled by the play that Canyon has used in previous games, raced toward home, only to be met by catcher John Gillette. But Gillette dropped the ball and Weer was safe with the first score of what became a 14-run inning.

“That play took a lot out of them,” DeGennaro said. “They were going good and then they got down defensively, and it turned out to be the turning point.”

“It’s just beyond comprehension for me,” Agoura Coach John Crow said about the inning. “We’ve always been a big-inning ballclub, but we’ve never had one like that.”

Canyon went through three pitchers in the inning. Rivera started and was charged with six runs before he was replaced by Charlie Gerard, who gave up another six runs. Ken Sollom followed and got the final two outs, but not before another two runs had scored.

In addition to DeGennaro’s grand slam in the sixth, Mike Bowman and Donnie Rea each had three-run home runs.

Mark Johnstone and Grant Landy each had four hits for Agoura, and DeGennaro was 2 for 5 with five runs batted in. Rea added four RBIs on two hits.

DeGennaro started the game for the Chargers and gave up seven runs in four innings. Rea (10-5) replaced him in the fifth and finished the game.