CANYONS RALLY IS TOO LATE.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

The unlikely became possible Friday at College of the Canyons.

The Cougars baseball team, riddled with pitching problems all season, found a staff that was nearly as depleted.

Almost.

With seemingly a rubber arm, Mount San Antonio pitcher Bobby Platt pitched 6-2/3 innings of relief, throwing at least 130 pitches. Canyons scored four runs in the ninth, but the Mounties held on for a 14-10 win in the opening round of the California State Community College Regionals in Valencia.

Canyons (25-19) must win today's second game (11 a.m.) to force a third game to follow.

What was amazing about Platt's performance was that he withstood every Canyons challenge. The Cougars loaded the bases in the eighth and ninth innings. When Rick Nadeau struck out with the bases full in the eighth, it seemed unimportant since Mount San Antonio (25-18) had a 13-6 lead.

However, Mount San Antonio coach Art Mazmanian left Platt in for the ninth. And despite three walks, Platt remained in the game, struggling with pitch after pitch and garnering a beet-red face from the hot sun. Gabby Halcovich's single and three run-scoring walks made it 14-10 with the bases loaded. But closer Matt Najera got Justin Bunch to pop out to end it.

``You see, they're just about as thin as we are,'' Canyons coach Len Mohney said. ``They didn't have anybody after that guy.''

Mohney didn't get consistent pitching, as usual. After being staked a 4-0 lead, Canyons starter Chris Baker - the club's ace - gave up eight runs (four earned) in a nine-run Mount San Antonio fifth inning.

After Canyons responded with two in the bottom of the fifth, reliever Brock Benson allowed a two-run homer to Ryan Annett and Canyons was behind 11-6.

``It's one thing to allow that nine-run inning,'' Mohney said. ``But you can't let them keep getting one- or two-run innings. Our pitching was bad.''

Mazmanian gambled on Friday by throwing his No. 2 pitcher, Darren Merrill. It backfired until Platt pulled his Satchel Paige impression and got the win.

``I was a little tired,'' Platt said. ``I could throw more. I'm not sure if they would be strikes, though.''

Today, Canyons will face No. 1 Josh Schuler (12-1) and Canyons will go with No. 2 Nate Celusta.

More frustrating was that the offense was there. Nadeau finished with four RBI, Halcovich had two and Cougars finished with 13 hits. Now, one of the area's best junior college offenses must perform against real pressure.

``We're going to pitch everybody with an arm,'' Mohney said. ``We've got to. I hope we have enough guys.''

Saddleback 5, Pierce 2: Casey Cote and Casey Doherty doubled and Keith Reed struck out nine in 6-1/3 innings for the Brahmas (28-13) in a first-round regional loss in Orange County.

The host Gauchos (27-13) got a two-run, two-out double in the second, broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the sixth, added two more in the seventh and turned away a bases-loaded Pierce threat in the ninth. The two schools play again today.