COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Van Blaricom’s Homer Helps OCC Beat Cypress

Sophomore Mike Van Blaricom hit a three-run home run with two outs in the 10th inning to give Orange Coast College a 12-10 victory over Cypress in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Thursday at Cypress.

The victory stops a five-game losing streak for Orange Coast (9-12, 2-6 in conference).

Terry Tewell capped a five-run eighth inning with a two-out grand slam to tie it, 9-9, for Cypress (12-10, 1-6).

John Stewart (2-1) pitched two innings for the victory. Ken Tolbert (4-2) took the loss for Cypress.

Kevin Schula, who played at Cypress last season, hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning for Orange Coast. Cypress’ Doug McConathy hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to cut Orange Coast’s lead to 9-4.

In other Orange Empire Conference baseball:

Golden West 16, Saddleback 8--Robb Carabba had three hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs; Steve McKowen had three hits and two RBIs, and Frank Herman and Mike Willey had three hits each as host Golden West totalled 19 hits. Josh Bammer added his fourth home run for Golden West (15-3, 6-2). Jeff Henderson (3-0) got the victory in relief.

Brent Ferguson had four hits, including a home run and two doubles, for Saddleback (7-9, 2-6).

Riverside 4, Rancho Santiago 3--Rancho Santiago (15-5, 5-3) scored three times in the ninth, but Rob Reimers grounded out to end the game at Riverside. Ben Blomdahl (7-1) had seven strikeouts and pitched a complete game for Riverside (16-6, 5-3). Conrad Colby, Chris Folth and Greg Martineau had RBI singles in the ninth for Rancho Santiago. Jerry Aschoff (3-2) took the loss.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s tennis:

Saddleback 8, Cypress 1--John Swaino defeated Carl Hinds, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 1 singles for Cypress’ only victory. Hinds also teammed with Stan Sanders to defeat Swaino and Bob Carlton, 7-5, 6-3. Saddleback (12-0, 5-0) is the top-ranked team in the state.

Orange Coast 7, Golden West 2--Chris Flood won, 6-1, 6-1, and Justin Zillman won, 6-0, 6-0, in singles for host Orange Coast (5-1 in conference) at Park Newport. Andy Stewart won at No. 1 singles, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, for Golden West.

In women’s Orange Empire Conference tennis:

Rancho Santiago 6, Riverside 3--Saraya Lara won, 6-0, 6-1, in singles, and Heather Pollack and Michelle Covin won, 6-0, 6-0, in doubles for visiting Rancho Santiago (5-6, 2-4).

Saddleback 7, Cypress 2--Tami Blume won, 6-0, 6-1, in singles, and Noelle Schmidt and Lynne Dossey won, 6-0, 6-4, in doubles for visiting Saddleback (4-1 in conference).