JC Baseball: Pirates hammer Cypress
While the Orange Coast College baseball team continues to delve liberally into its depth, the competition in the Orange Empire Conference appears to get growing increasingly shallow.
The Pirates (20-3, 7-1 in conference) avenged their lone conference loss with a 14-5 home triumph over Cypress on Thursday to remain one game ahead of second-place Riverside.
But Coach John Altobelli’s squad, ranked No. 1 in the state, is now three games better than the No. 6-ranked Chargers (17-7, 4-4) and Golden West, who are tied for third.
The Pirates lashed a season-best 18 hits, including a season-high seven doubles, as well as two home runs, to produce their seventh double-digit scoring output. The windfall came one game after a season-low output in a 2-1 loss at Cypress on Tuesday.
It was the eighth time OCC has hit at least two home runs in a game this season, and its 25 dingers rank first in the state.
OCC sophomore center fielder Jacob White was four for five with one run batted in and two runs to pace the hosts. White, who began the season in the starting lineup, had started just once in OCC’s previous 11 games. During that time, he was two for seven without an RBI. He raised his batting average 59 points to .292 after Thursday’s start.
Sophomore designated hitter Jake Gozzo, who had played once in OCC’s previous seven games, going 0-3 in a starting assignment, was two for three with a double and two RBIs on Thursday. He lifted his average 37 points to .237.
Sophomore catcher Robert Teel continued his recent tear, going three for five with two doubles and three RBIs on Thursday. In the last six games, all of which he has started, Teel is 10 for 22 (.454) with 11 RBIs and has raised his season average 62 points to .395.
Sophomore first baseman Eric Wagaman and sophomore shortstop Travis Moniot continued their stellar seasons, while sophomore second baseman J.T. Navarro added to his sizzling surge in conference play.
Wagaman was three for five with a double, a homer and three RBIs. His nine homers and 28 RBIs lead the conference.
Moniot was two for three with a double and two RBIs. The University of Oregon bounce-back is batting .400 with 20 RBIs this season. He left the game in the seventh inning with an ankle sprain that Altobelli later said is not expected to be a concern.
Navarro, who hit a team-best .370 as a freshman, hit .214 in 15 games before conference play. Since, he has an eight-game hitting streak, is hitting .387 in conference (12 for 31) and is 10 for 24 in the last six games (.417). He was two for four with a double and scored twice Thursday.
Sophomore Austin Moore, who earned his first win with two relief innings, made his first appearance in 19 games, due to arm soreness.
John Balliet, who typically starts in center field, made his first mound appearance in 16 games. He struck out two and did not allow a hit in the ninth inning.
“What I thought was huge, was the guys who have been on the bench for a long time,” Altobelli said. “White, who had been a starter, never hung his head [when benched]. He got his chance and had a great day today.
“Teel has been on fire since being back in the lineup, Gozzo had a big day today, and it was awesome to see [sophomore reserve outfielder Luke Hussung, who smacked his first homer of the season] get into one today.
“I’m proud of those guys for being good teammates.”
Orange Empire Conference
Orange Coast 14, Cypress 5
SCORE BY INNINGS
Cyp 301 010 000 – 5 10 2
OCC 411 320 30x – 14 18 2
Flohr, McNeely (4), McCollum (7), Pettibone (8) and Sebby, Lopez (8); Jabara, Moore (4), Lewis (6), Balliet (9) and Teel, Ceballos (9). W – Moore, 1-0. L – Flohr, 0-2. 2B – Smith (C), Navarro (OCC), Teel (OCC) 2, Gozzo (OCC), Wagaman (OCC), Moniot (OCC), White (OCC). HR – Hussung (OCC), Wagaman (OCC).
Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5
