Community College Baseball : Golden West Wins Twice to Advance : Rustlers Defeat Cuesta, L.A. Harbor in Spring Tournament

Golden West College advanced to the semifinals of the Orange Coast-Golden West Easter baseball tournament Wednesday with victories against Cuesta and Los Angeles Harbor Wednesday.

The Rustlers beat Cuesta, 6-1, as John Martin (3-1) pitched the first complete game of the year for Golden West, giving up five hits. The leading Rustler hitter was Andy Mota with two hits, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning for a 5-0 lead. Shawn Gilbert and Ken DeMarco also had two hits each. Cuesta is 7-15.

In the second game of the day, Golden West defeated Harbor, 20-11, as the teams had a total of 38 hits. The defending state champion Seahawks (16-7) are ranked sixth in the state, and the Rustlers (13-4) are ranked 10th.

Though the Seahawks managed nearly as many hits (17) as the Rustlers (21), they committed seven errors. Golden West’s Larry Salaets (3-2) pitched five innings and received credit for the win. Tim Cooper (4-1) took the loss.

The Rustlers’ leading hitter was Shane Flores, who went 4 for 5. Mota and Keith Kaub had three hits, and Steve Overeem had three hits, including a two-run homer, and Todd Nash drove in four runs. Harbor’s Greg Bochesa was 3 for 5 with a double, two homers and four RBIs.

Kings River defeated Orange Coast, 5-4, Wednesday. Golden West will play Kings River at noon today at Golden West, and Orange Coast plays host to Cuesta at 10 a.m.

In the West Los Angeles Tournament:

Santa Ana 5, El Camino 2--The Dons finished pool play at El Camino with a 2-1 record after pitcher Wayne Gilles (1-0) allowed the Warriors only two hits Wednesday. The Warriors (15-6) scored once off Gilles in the seventh, and Don reliever Mike Schwabe gave up the other run in the ninth. Offensively, Santa Ana (17-6) was led by Doug Maher, who had a solo homer in the fifth inning, Steve Scarsone with two hits, and Dave Keith with two RBIs.