ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE BASEBALL PREVIEW : Lucky Seven: All Teams Should Have a Shot at Title

In the past three years, there was a clear favorite in the Orange Empire Conference baseball race.

But when the 24-game season starts Saturday, no team is considered the one to beat. Each of the seven members--Cypress, Fullerton, Golden West, Orange Coast, Rancho Santiago, Riverside and Saddleback--has a record better than .500.

Fullerton got most of the preseason attention, but Rancho Santiago, Golden West and Riverside have been impressive in the non-conference schedule.

Golden West Coach Bert Villarreal’s opinion is typical of the conference coaches.

“Put the names in a hat and draw, that’s about as good as anyone will do trying to predict this race,” he said. “Everything looks pretty even.”

Cypress, the defending champion, has lost every starter except catcher Terry Tewell, and Coach Scott Pickler is confident of one thing: His team can’t be the favorite.

“Everyone else has improved over last season except us,” Pickler said. “Everything seems to get a little more even each season.”

Fullerton and Riverside are the most improved teams. Fullerton was 12-27 and finished sixth in the conference at 7-17 a year ago. Only Riverside (4-19-1) had a poorer conference record.

But this season, Fullerton (8-2) and Riverside (11-2) have been impressive.

“I like our team a lot,” Fullerton Coach Nick Fuscardo said. “We are much improved over last season and we have a chance to win it. But there are three or four teams that are ready to contend.”

Here is closer look at the Orange Empire Conference:

CYPRESS (10-3)

The Chargers at times will have eight freshmen in the lineup, but they won’t lack talent.

Tewell is the only returning position player and he is being counted on for leadership.

Shortstop Jason Bates (Esperanza), third baseman Doug McConathy, second baseman Troy Babbitt (Western) and outfielder Steve Rath (Kennedy) were all Times’ all-county players last season in high school.

Cypress’ inexperience will most likely show on the mound. Ken Kendrena, a converted infielder, Ken Tolbert and Ron Brown are back, but none pitched much last season.

FULLERTON (8-2)

Fullerton’s struggles of last season have at least yielded two experienced pitchers. Trevor Painton and Steve Trachsel are back, along with sophomore transfers Tom Kelly and Matt Lipscomb.

Gary Mota, son of Dodger coach Manny Mota, has transferred from Canada College in Redwood City. Mota, an outfielder, is batting .432 with five home runs and 22 RBIs this season.

Willy Speakman, a sophomore catcher, is batting .545 with 15 RBIs. Jim Short, a transfer from Cypress College, is playing first base.

GOLDEN WEST (7-1)

The Rustlers, along with Fullerton, have the most experience, led by sophomore outfielders Frank Herman and Steve McKowen. Herman was most impressive this summer in the Metro League, batting .500 and winning the most valuable player award.

McKowen, the leadoff hitter, won the most valuable player award in the Cypress tournament two weeks ago. Josh Bammer returns to play first base, Rob Willey is at second, Robb Carabba is the shortstop and Mark Magrann the catcher. Freshman Gerad Cowhorn is at third, and freshman Gary Christopherson plays the outfield and is a designated hitter.

The Rustlers’ returning pitching is led by sophomores David Turner, Ken Pope, Todd Long and James Marquez.

“It’s good to have so much experience this season,” Villarreal said. “We came close to the playoffs last season (missed by one victory), and they know what it takes to win.”

RANCHO SANTIAGO (9-2)

The Dons return two of the best hitters in the conference, first baseman Conrad Colby and outfielder Marty Neff. Colby batted .414 with six home runs and 54 RBIs and Neff hit .358 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs last season.

Neff has already hit nine home runs this season.

Rancho Santiago lost designated hitter Sean Ramos, who moved to Texas, and shortstop Ed Renteria, who separated his shoulder two weeks ago and may be out for the season.

Coach Don Sneddon says his team is deeper in pitching this season than last year.

“One through eight we don’t drop off that much as we did (last year), but we’re not as good at one and two as we were,” Sneddon said.

Jerry Aschoff, Mike Hoelker, Matt Lackie and Rob Nay return to lend some sophomore experience to the pitching staff.

ORANGE COAST (7-5)

Scott Groot has taken over as coach for a season and former headman Mike Mayne is working as an assistant. The Pirates are led by returning pitchers Tom Irwin, John Douris and Dominic Alvarez. Irwin is off to the best start of the three, with three complete games and a 3-0 record.

OCC is taking advantage of a pair of transfers from Saddleback College. Tony Spaan is at shortstop and Sean Therien is in the outfield.

Mike Van Blaricom and Isidro Maldonado, who split time at shortstop last season, are splitting time at third this year. Van Blaricom has also played at center field.

Freshman Mark Dodd was expected to do most of the catching, but he has been bothered by a sore right shoulder and has played in only three games. Kevin Schula, a sophomore transfer from Cypress College, has been playing in Dodd’s place.

RIVERSIDE (11-2)

The Tigers, under first-year Coach Dennis Rogers, already have won as many games as in the past two seasons combined. Riverside was 7-29-1 last season and 4-32-1 the previous year.

The last time Riverside finished over .500 was in 1984, when the Tigers were 18-16. Riverside last won a conference title in 1946.

This season’s team is led by sophomore shortstop Randy Graves and returning outfielder Daryl McChristian. Graves is a transfer from Cal State Fullerton, where he started as a freshman.

Ben Blomdahl, a freshman pitcher, is 4-0 and has 37 strikeouts in 35 innings.

SADDLEBACK (5-3)

Jack Hodges takes over the program with the hopes of turning it into a contender. Saddleback last won a conference title in 1984. That was also the last time Saddleback had a record of .500 or better.

Hodges, who got the coaching job in early August, didn’t get on campus to start recruiting until early September because he was working with the U.S. Junior National team.

Saddleback returns a pair of all-conference performers in second baseman Ted Savage and outfielder Brent Ferguson. First baseman Brian Hoialmen is also back.

Buster Nietzke turned down a partial scholarship to Chapman and is also starting in the outfield.

Pat Norville, Corey Guiliano, John Goodman and Kelly Briggs head up the pitching staff.