Now he has two. What's more, he slugged them both in a single game last week to lead the Bruins to an 11-1 win over Mt. Pleasant.

It was one of two big wins for Branham over the Cardinals, winless in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. Branham pounded the Cards 12-8 later in the week.

The Bruins lost two after sweeping the Cardinals, though, losing a 7-0 non-league nod to Santa Cruz and a 6-5 heartbreaker to Oak Grove on Monday in a make-up game for a rainout earlier in the year.

The four game split leaves Branham with a 9-6 season record. The Bruins are 5-5 in the division and share fourth place with rival Leland, their opponent this week. The two clubs figured to break the fourth-place tie on Wednesday and will be at it again on April 15 at Branham, 3:30 p.m. The following week the Bruins take on Leigh in two 3:30 p.m. games--April 20 at Leigh and April 22 at home.

Santa Teresa (7-3 in league, 8-5 overall) tops the division with Leigh (6-3, 9-5) second and Westmont (5-3, 6-6) third. Branham and Leland are tied for fourth, but only two games out of first place.

Branham started the week in grand fashion with the 11-1 win over Mt. Pleasant. Janssen got his club off to a quick start with a solo homer to left center.

The Bruins added two more in the second when Duce Ferrante doubled down the left field line and trotted home when Preston Ward crushed a long homer over the left field foul pole.

The Branham offense kept up the attack in the third when Louis Sakoda singled, Kenny Chadwick was hit by a pitch and Nolan Robison blasted a run-scoring double. Ferrante belted his second double of the game to drive in another run.

Mike Swenson singled to center in the fifth, but was forced at second on a ground ball by T.J. DeStefano. After DeStefano stole second and took third on a wild pitch, Janssen knocked him home with a sacrifice fly to center.

Branham really broke the game open with a five-run rally in the sixth. Brandon Bittle singled and scored on a triple to right center by Robison. Ferrante's third double plated Robison before DeStefano was hit by a pitch. Janssen followed with his second homer of the day, a three-run shot to left center, to make it 11-0.

The Cards broke up the Mitch Kanagaki's shutout with an unearned run in the seventh, but the Branham hurler still managed a complete game effort, striking out six. Kanagaki, who held the Cardinals hitless through five innings, finished with a 4-hitter and evened his mound record at 2-2.

Branham came back later in the week with a 12-8 win over Mt. Pleasant to complete the sweep. Sakoda was the winning pitcher, pushing his record to 5-0. Willie Gemo finished the game with an inning of no-hit, no-run relief. Gemo struck out two.

Bittle led the offensive barrage for the Bruins with four hits. He knocked in two runs and scored twice. Chadwick singled and doubled in the win, DeStefano and Ward had two hits apiece and Robison doubled.

The Bruins were blanked 7-0 by the Cardinals of Santa Cruz in a non-league game over the weekend. Branham trailed just 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth when the Cards unloaded for six runs. Branham could manage just two hits in the game, singles by Bittle and Jake Conners.

Branham lost a tough 6-5 decision to Oak Grove on Monday, despite getting another complete game effort from Kanagaki. The Bruins took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but the Eagles unloaded for three runs to take the lead and eventually the win.

Ferrante and Sakoda had two hits apiece for the Bruins and each knocked in a run. Sakoda doubled in the game.

Bittle, Chadwick, Dan Shehan and Ward also singled to round the eight-hit attack for the Bruins.