Community College Roundup : Rancho Santiago Defeats OCC, 8-5

Willie Navarrette carried a two-hitter into the ninth inning but needed relief help as Rancho Santiago College defeated Orange Coast, 8-5, in the Orange Empire Conference baseball opener for both teams Thursday at OCC.

With the victory, Don Sneddon, Rancho Santiago coach, ties Roger Wilson as the winningest baseball coach at the school. Sneddon, who is in his seventh season, is 186-64-1. Wilson, who is now the Rancho Santiago athletic director, had a record of 186-217-6 from 1961 to 1974.

Navarrette, a freshman left-hander, gave up two hits, including a three-run home run by Pete McKeller in the second inning to give OCC a 3-0 lead.

Navarrette then retired 14 batters in a row from the last out of the third to the first out in the eighth before he walked Jason Young.

OCC’s Tom Yanez had a pinch-hit double in the ninth to drive in two runs and chase Navarrette. Jack Bailey came in to to get the final out. Navarrette is 5-0.

Sam Colarusso, the OCC starter, balked in a run in the third and Mike Gonzales singled in another as Rancho Santiago cut the lead to 3-2.

Bobby Hamelin singled, stole second and scored on a single by Rich Gonzales in the fifth to tie the score at 3-3. Nick Santa Cruz doubled and scored on an error in the sixth to put Rancho Santiago ahead, 4-3.

Todd Lloyd’s two-run double capped a four-run eighth inning for Rancho Santiago (16-4 overall, 1-0 in conference). OCC is 15-10-1 and 0-1.