Howard Forces Valley to Knuckle Under, 11-0 : Baseball: He gives up two hits in seven innings as Pierce protects its WSC South Division lead.

VAN NUYS â€”  It’s tough enough to hit a curveball, but when it dances to the plate like a knuckleball, it becomes nearly untouchable.

Rusty Howard, a sophomore right-hander, had outstanding command of his knuckle-curve in Pierce College’s 11-0 victory over Valley in a Western State Conference South Division game Saturday at Valley.

The former Grant High standout allowed only two hits in seven innings, struck out six and walked three.

It was the second start of the season for Howard (4-1), who was the Brahmas’ closer until recently.

Pierce (22-16, 17-6) can claim the division title by winning its final three games. Pierce took a 1 1/2-game lead over Bakersfield, which played Saturday night.

Howard helped the Brahmas move closer to that goal.

“When that pitch is on, I just mix it up with the fastball and it makes it hard to hit,� Howard said. “I throw it hard or slow.�

Either way, the Monarchs (10-26, 6-17) had a difficult time against the nasty pitch that typically has a sharp downward break.

The Monarchs hit only six balls out of the infield against Howard, including a two-out triple by Colyn VanBuren in the seventh.

Until then, Valley’s only hit had been a single to left by John Shellabarger to open the third.

“Rusty throws strikes with his breaking ball and if you can do that, you are going to be successful,� said Chris Johnson, Valley coach.

Right-hander Brandon Nickens, who has become the Brahmas’ closer since Howard left the bullpen, pitched the final two innings to preserve the shutout.

By that time, however, Pierce was in little danger of blowing the game.

The Brahmas got all the runs they would need with a three-run outburst in the second against Valley right-hander Jorge Dorado (3-6).

John Novak knocked in one of the runs with a double, the first of five runs batted in for the sophomore left fielder from El Camino Real High. He finished three for four.

After they added one run in the fifth, the Brahmas scored twice in the sixth against Juan Dorado, Jorge’s older brother.

They broke open the game with three runs in the seventh against Juan Dorado, the first two on a Mike Glendenning double off the left-center field fence. Glendenning moved to third on a wild pitch and Novak knocked him in with a single to center.

Novak added some insurance with a two-run single in the ninth.

Glendenning was two for four and designated hitter Tony Montiel went two for three.