COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Saddleback Makes 10 Errors While Losing to Fullerton

It took only one hitter to establish the tone in Fullerton College’s 13-1 victory over Saddleback in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Saturday at Saddleback.

Benny Rodriguez, Fullerton’s leadoff batter, hit a ground ball to second baseman Ted Savage. But Savage’s throw to first was wide, and Rodriguez was safe on the error.

Saddleback went on to commit nine more errors. The 10 errors, all by infielders, led to 11 unearned Fullerton runs.

Fullerton didn’t get its first earned run until Jim Short hit a home run over the left-field fence to put the Hornets ahead, 11-1, in the seventh inning.

In the first inning, Fullerton scored five unearned runs. After Rodriguez reached base on an error, Willy Speakman singled. Gary Mota hit into a force play, but Saddleback shortstop Rob Nye’s relay to first base was wild and Rodriguez scored. Tom Wilson had an RBI double, Jim Vlcek and Kevin Monson added RBI singles, and Fullerton scored another run on a throwing error by catcher Ralph Grajeda.

Fullerton turned the 5-0 lead over to starter Steve Trachsel, a sophomore right-hander. He allowed five hits, striking out four and walking two in seven innings to improve to 6-1. Brian Behnke pitched the final two innings.

Ted Savage had two hits, including an RBI double, for Saddleback (7-10, 2-6). Saddleback’s Eric Cedarstaff (0-6) lasted two-thirds of an inning, allowing five unearned runs.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Rancho Santiago 12, Cypress 11--Tom Acuna hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to pull Cypress within 12-11, but Matt Lackie came in to get the final out for host Rancho Santiago (15-5, 6-3). Acuna had two home runs and five RBIs.

Chris Floth, Greg Martineau, Steve Grack and Marty Neff hit home runs for Rancho Santiago. Neff’s homer was his conference-leading 11th and Grack hit his seventh. It was Martineau’s second and Floth’s first. Cypress falls to 12-11, 1-7.

Riverside 10, Golden West 2--Gerad Cawhorn hit a home run for visiting Golden West (15-4, 6-3). James Patterson (3-2) got the victory for Riverside (17-6, 6-3). James Marquez (3-2) took the loss.

In the Golden West softball tournament:

Golden West 4, Pasadena 3 (9 innings)--Gretchen Bock had a two-out two-run single in the ninth for Golden West (20-8).

In the Cuesta swiming invitational:

Mike McNeff won the 200-yard backstroke in 2:01.53 and Bob Bently (2:03.35) was second to help clinch the title for the OCC men, who finished with 607 1/2 points. Diablo Valley (602) was second and Golden West (520) was third. Tony Harris won the 500 and 1,650 freestyle also for OCC.

Kim Stansfield won one- and three-meter diving events and Karen Paulitschek won the 100 and the 500 butterfly to lead the OCC women with 644 points. It was the fifth consecutive time OCC has won the meet.