Community College Roundup : Rancho Santiago’s Bailey (6-0) Shows True Grit

The first time Rancho Santiago College’s Jack Bailey faced Orange Coast this season, he pitched a two-hitter and cruised to an easy victory.

This time, Bailey was much less impressive but almost as effective in the late innings as he held on for a 7-5 victory Thursday in an Orange Empire Conference game at OCC.

OCC had eight hits and four runs off Bailey through four innings, but he allowed only three hits and a run in the final five.

Bailey, who had three walks and six strikeouts, improved to 6-0 with a save. He is 4-0 in conference play for Rancho Santiago (13-8 overall and 6-2 in conference).

“That was a gutty performance,” Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon said of Bailey. “He showed why he is 6-0. It was a good win over a good club.”

OCC (14-7-1, 4-4) scored two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Rancho Santiago got a run in the sixth to tie it before getting two more in the seventh to take a 6-4 lead.

The big hit in the seventh inning was a two-run single by Sean Ramos, the designated hitter. Ramos singled to drive in Danny Ontiveros and John McTaggart, both of whom had singled.

Ramos’ hit was also the end of OCC starter Jason Young (0-1). Young worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs. Ramos also had a two-run single in the third. He was two for four with four RBIs.

OCC scored a run in the seventh. Larry Perry had a lead-off double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI ground out by Eddie Pierce. OCC had a chance to take the lead later in the inning when Marty Cordova and Darrel Conner walked with two outs. They moved up on a wild pitch, but Bailey got Craig Nixon to pop up to second baseman Tim Reynolds.

Marty Neff hit a solo home run in the eighth to give the Dons a 7-5 lead. Bailey retired the final six batters he faced.

Rancho Santiago opened the scoring when Conrad Colby hit a solo home run with one out in the first. The Dons added two more runs in the third. Ontiveros singled to left, Colby doubled to right and Ramos followed with a single up the middle to score both runners.

Colby and Ontiveros each had three hits and scored two runs. Greg Martineau also had three hits for Rancho Santiago, which had 13.

Hector Santa Cruz had three hits, and Craig Nixon and Mike Van Blaricom had two hits for OCC.

In another Orange Empire Conference baseball game:

Saddleback 7, Golden West 4--Ted Savage, a freshman from Laguna Beach, hit a two-run home run in the seventh to give visiting Saddleback (12-5-1, 3-4-1) a 5-2 lead. Eric Patton (2-2) pitched seven innings and Todd Buch went the final two to get his second save. Toby Foreman (4-3) took the loss for Golden West (11-6, 5-2). Josh Bammer had two hits and Craig Paquette and Dan Villegas had RBI singles for Golden West.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s tennis:

Rancho Santiago 6, Cypress 3--Mike Bains won 6-2, 6-3, and John Fung won, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, in singles for host Rancho Santiago.

Golden West 6, Fullerton 3--No. 1 singles Robert Lucas defeated Mike Cafarchia, 6-2, 6-1, to lead Golden West (3-8, 2-3) at Fullerton.

In Orange Empire Conference women’s tennis:

Golden West 8, Fullerton 1--Cyndi Hurzeler defeated Heidi Ditmars, 7-5, 6-0, in No. 1 singles for host Golden West.

Rancho Santiago 6, Cypress 3--Teri Eggers, the No. 1 player for Rancho Santiago, scored a straight set victory over Loretta Fleming, 7-6, 6-3, then teamed with Stephanie Fuentes to defeat Fleming and Dorothy Bryant, 6-1, 6-2, in a match at Cypress.

In nonleague golf:

Orange Coast 395, Mt. San Antonio 406--Eric Hessligton of Orange Coast (13-2) shot a 75 at Mesa Verde Country Club to win medalist honors.