Lions aim for historic GSAC title

The last weekend of the Golden State Athletic Conference baseball season is a “free-four-all.” Four teams, including first-place Vanguard University, have a chance to come away with the conference crown.

Vanguard (30-19, 18-9 in conference) holds a one-game lead heading into its series at second-place Biola (32-15, 17-10), beginning Friday at 3 p.m. and concluding with a doubleheader Saturday.

Hope International and Menlo are both 16-10 and have four games remaining.

Menlo plays two doubleheaders at seventh-place Westmont, Friday and Saturday.

HIU visits eighth-place San Diego Christian for three games on Friday and Saturday (doubleheader). The Royals may or may not complete a game against Westmont in which a Westmont protest was upheld. Should that game factor into GSAC Tournament qualification or seeding, it would be resumed (with Westmont ahead, 2-0, in the top of the fifth inning), at Hope on either Monday or Tuesday.

Vanguard which went to the NAIA World Series in 2014 and was one win away from a repeat World Series trip last season, has never won a regular-season GSAC title.

Coach Rob Pegg’s Lions have won 10 of their last 14 after a 1-5 stretch at Menlo (swept in three games March 17-18) and Westmont (March 24-25).

“We’ve been up and down all year,” Pegg said. “Our guys show flashes of brilliance. When we do what we’re capable of doing, we’re good. But other days … Last weekend against The Master’s, we were horrible on Friday, and the next day [doubleheader], we came out and were great in every area.”

Biola won two of three nonconference games at Vanguard in February and the Eagles have won 10 of their last 12.

“We could wind up anywhere from first to fourth,” Pegg said. “It should be a pretty emotionally charged weekend.”

Sandoval does it all

The Lions are led by GSAC Player of the Year candidate Brandon Sandoval, who leads the conference with a .402 batting average.

Sandoval, a two-time All-GSAC outfielder who hits leadoff, leads Vanguard in hits (74), runs (60), stolen bases (32), slugging (.592) and on-base percentage (.495). His 42 runs batted in share the team lead and his seven homers are one behind the leader.

Pickett lauded

Costa Mesa resident Eunetta Pickett, a longtime official and assigner of officials, is among the inductees into the California Community College Men’s Volleyball Coaches Assn. Hall of Fame. She will be recognized during the four-team state tournament Thursday and Saturday at Los Angeles Pierce College.

Orange Coast (19-1 and riding an 18-match winning streak) is the No. 1 seed. The Pirates play Santa Monica (14-5) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Long Beach (16-3) plays El Camino (11-7) in the other semifinal on Thursday at 5 p.m.

The final is Saturday at 7 p.m.

Rustlers seek renewal

Golden West College Athletic Director Albert Gasparian said the Rustlers softball team cancelled its final two games of the season due to a lack of academically eligible players.

The Rustlers, who had 10 available players for a 21-0 loss at OCC on April 19, were 0-30 in games they played this season. They have lost 42 straight, including 35 consecutive Orange Empire Conference games, were outscored, 430-37, this season, and finished last in the OEC the last four seasons.

Gasparian, who had been hopeful that first-year coach Stesha Brazil – who was hired late, limiting her ability to recruit – could turn the program around, said Brazil has resigned.

“The position will open in a couple of days as an adjunct faculty member and I hope to hire by the end of May,” Gasparian said in an email.

Gasparian also said the school is in the initial planning phase for a new softball facility, to be constructed next to the current field.

barry.faulkner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5