Orange County College Baseball : Gilles Proves Himself Worthy in Relief

All season, Wayne Gilles has been looking for the kind of opportunity he got Thursday afternoon.

Gilles, a Rancho Santiago right-hander, wanted a chance to prove that he is a quality relief pitcher.

Gilles blanked fourth-place Fullerton (13-10 and 19-16) over the final five innings as the second-place Dons defeated the Hornets, 8-4, in a South Coast Conference baseball game at Fullerton.

Rancho Santiago (17-6 and 27-8) broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh on shortstop Matt Beltran’s three-run home run off losing pitcher Rob DeYoung (7-5). It was Beltran’s fourth home run of the season.

The Dons, the No. 3 team in Southern California, had clinched a playoff berth in the state regionals Tuesday by beating Cypress. They travel to San Bernardino Valley to open a best-of-three playoff series on May 17.

“That was very encouraging for Wayne (Gilles) and the club today,” said Don Sneddon, Rancho Santiago coach. “What he did today in relief was exactly what we wanted for him all season. It will take that kind of performance from him for us to be successful in the playoffs.”

Gilles (3-2) had six strikeouts and three walks after replacing starter Mitch Schwabe in the fourth. Gilles, a sophomore from Canyon High School, was in trouble only in the ninth when he walked two batters and gave up a single to pinch-hitter Mike Baker.

But with the bases loaded, Gilles retired Fullerton career-hit leader Jeff Oberdank on a soft liner to second to end the game.

“I felt like I was really in a groove out there except in the last inning when I was overthrowing,” Gilles said. “This is what I’ve been waiting for all season. I feel ready for the playoffs.”

Fullerton took a 4-0 lead after three innings with the aid of three Rancho Santiago errors and RBI singles by Oberdank Anthony Moreno.

The Dons scored their first run in the fourth on Ruben Gonzalez’s 12th home run of the season. Gonzalez is Rancho Santiago’s career home run leader with 23.

In other South Coast Conference action:

Orange Coast 18, Mt. San Antonio 7--The conference-champion Pirates (20-3, 31-7) had 21 hits, including home runs by center fielder Ralph Ramirez and designated hitter Dave Staton, in their win at Orange Coast. Jim Foley (4-0) got the win. Eric Meron took the loss for the Mounties (8-15, 12-20).

Cypress 11, Compton 2--Ed Evans had three hits and two RBIs, Mike Faddoul had two hits and two RBIs, and Mark Baca hit a two-run home run to help the Chargers (13-10, 28-12) defeat the Tartars (0-23, 0-28) at Cypress.

Golden West 10, Saddleback 3--Golden West sophomore Keith Kaub went 3 for 4, including his 17th home run, and drove in four runs to lead the Rustlers at Saddleback. Kaub is the career home run leader at Golden West with 25. George Lazalde also homered and went 2 for 5 with three RBIs for the Rustlers (12-12, 19-15). The Gauchos are 8-15 and 16-18. .

In NAIA District 3 playoff action:

Point Loma 2, Southern California College 1--John Danis doubled home pinch-runner Marty Brown in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead Point Loma past the Vanguards at Costa Mesa.

Danis also had an RBI double in the seventh inning to give Point Loma (16-32) a 1-0 lead. SCC (34-14) tied the score, 1-1, on Ben Stepanoff’s sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth.