Orange County Community College Baseball : Orange Coast Wins, Has First to Itself

John Kuzmic pitched a nine-hitter as Orange Coast College defeated Citrus, 9-2, and took over first place in the Orange Empire Conference.

Saddleback upset Rancho Santiago, 4-1, Thursday, so Rancho Santiago drops one game back with one remaining. The regular season ends Saturday with Citrus at Rancho Santiago and Riverside at OCC. Rancho Santiago had defeated OCC, 12-8, Tuesday to leave the teams tied for first.

The conference winner gets the only berth in the Southern California Regional playoffs May 16-17.

OCC (15-4, 30-10) had lost two straight coming into Thursday’s game, including last Saturday’s 9-8 loss to Cypress. In that game, Kuzmic gave up six runs in 1 innings. OCC used seven pitchers in the two losses.

“This was a real set-up game for our pitching staff,” said Mike Mayne, OCC coach. “We needed a complete game to rest some people.”

OCC, which left 10 runners on base in the first six innings, scored three runs in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie. Mike Misuraca singled in two runs and Mike Lujan singled in another.

Lujan, who was dropped from leadoff to No. 9 for the game, was 4 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Orange Coast had 18 hits.

OCC scored four runs in the eighth as Joey James hit a three-run home run, his 13th, and Brent Mayne hit a bases-empty home run, his first. James’ home run gave Orange Coast 43 homers this season, tying the school single-season record set in 1983, and Mayne’s broke it.

It was also the fifth time in Mike Mayne’s 11 seasons that OCC has won 30 or more game.

Saddleback 4, Rancho Santiago 1--The Gauchos (4-15, 12-22) upset the Dons (14-5, 27-9) for the second consecutive time at Saddleback. Saddleback defeated Rancho Santiago, 12-6, in the teams’ last meeting. Pat Walker had an RBI single in the second, and another run scored on a throwing error by Rancho Santiago shortstop Nick Santa Cruz.

In the seventh, Walker doubled and Rob Sboff hit a two-run home run, his first. Dave Hollaway (3-0) pitched 7 innings and Jes Feathers the final 1 for Saddleback. Brent Reese had a sacrifice fly in the first for Rancho Santiago.

Cypress 11, Riverside 0--Sophomore right-hander David Wooley threw a one-hitter and struck out nine to lead the Chargers (8-11, 25-17) over the Tigers (7-12) at Riverside. The only hit Wooley allowed was a first-inning double. Dave Brodt had three hits and two RBIs, and Paul Bunch and Mick Mineni each added two hits and two RBIs for Cypress.

In the South Coast Conference:

Golden West 12, Mt. San Antonio 5--Greg Martin was 3 for 5 with two RBIs to lead the Rustlers (12-15, 17-17) at Golden West. Chip Damato added two hits and three RBIs, and George Lazalde had two hits and two RBIs for Golden West.

Fullerton 12, Compton 1--Tim Churchill hit a two-run home run and Shawn Blankenship had three hits and scored two runs to lead the Hornets (20-7, 26-12-2) past the Tartars (0-27) at Fullerton. Pitcher Mark Tranberg allowed three hits in six innings to gain the victory, and Bart Stroozas added two hits and two runs for Fullerton.