COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS NOTEBOOK: CANYONS CONTINUES ITS CLIMB IN WSC AFTER 3-10 START, COC EYES PLAYOFFS.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Richie Martin is among the increasing number of injured pitchers at College of the Canyons, but not even the loss of the emerging ace has slowed the Cougars.

Canyons improved to 11-5 in conference by defeating Moorpark on Tuesday. The Cougars, who need to finish in the top two to earn an automatic playoff berth, are in second place in the Western State Conference South entering Saturday's game against Citrus.

Martin has been one of the big reasons for the Cougars success after a 3-10 start. The freshman is 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA in 19 1/3 innings of WSC play. Martin is out with a tender arm but could be back by next week.

``He's going to be important for us,'' Cougars coach Chris Cota said.

With Martin and others being sidelined, sophomore Jason Daily has moved into a starting role and earned the win Tuesday against Moorpark. Sophomore right-hander Simon Arredondo will likely start Saturday, but the Cougars aren't sure who will pitch beyond that.

``Our pitchers are going down,'' Cota said. ``We're almost to the point where we're going game to game; we aren't sure who we'll have start.''

A surging offense has kept the Cougars within reach of Citrus, which leads the WSC in both team batting average (.345) and ERA (4.17). COC freshman Adam Rondou entered the week fourth in the conference with a .450 WSC batting average. Sophomore Francisco Enriquez entered the week with a conference-best 25 RBI, seven home runs and eight doubles.

--Getting offensive: The defending conference champion Cougars softball team continued to drop in the standings with Tuesday's loss to Bakersfield, but COC's offense was an encouraging sign. The Cougars had 18 hits in the 7-6 loss, which dropped COC to 16-20.

``At least we're hitting,'' Cougars coach Ray Whitten said.

< Rian Standley entered the week second in the conference with a .500 WSC batting average.

COC, which is home Saturday against Santa Monica, was tied for third in the Blue Division, one game behind second-place Bakersfield, before Tuesday's loss, which put COC five back of first-place Moorpark.

--Hoop honors: Ricardo Suazo came away the big winner at the COC men's basketball award banquet. The sophomore forward was named team MVP. He also earned the Cougar Man award for toughness and determination. He was one of three Cougars to earn all-conference recognition, making the first team.

Guard Matt Nelsen, also an all-conference pick, was named the team's outstanding freshman in addition to earning the Lee Smelser award for combined academic achievement and free-throw percentage.

Freshman forward Carlos Escoto was named most improved player.

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Sophomore Jason Daily has moved into a starting role for College of the Canyons, which continues its bid for the playoffs with a game Saturday.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer