Ferrante Hasn’t an Answer, Just an Average

Rose Ferrante talks about her hitting as if it’s no big deal.

She shuns compliments and tries to act as if her talent is nothing special.

Ferrante, a sophomore catcher at Cypress College, is hitting .481, with eight triples, two home runs and 19 runs batted in for the Chargers (25-3 overall, 9-0 in conference). She has struck out only twice in 104 at-bats.

But don’t bother to ask her for any explanations.

“I don’t even know why I’m a good hitter,” she said. “I don’t practice any more than anyone else. I just have always been able to hit since I was 8, which was when I started playing.”

Cypress Coach Brad Pickler doesn’t have any answers, either, but he has a few ideas.

“I don’t know why for sure,” he said, “but she is pretty strong and has more of a baseball-type swing. Some hitters turn their heads, but she stays right there with her eyes wide open.”

Ferrante first played for Pickler as a freshman at Savanna High School, but her hitting talent was still developing. She was trying too hard to pull the ball, Pickler said.

After working for a year to use the entire field, Ferrante’s batting average improved greatly.

She was an all-Orange League player for three years and was recruited by Chapman College, but elected to attend Cypress.

“I wasn’t a school person,” Ferrante said. “I figured I would have more fun here (Cypress). And I have.”

Ferrante had lots of fun last season, when she bashed pitchers for a .389 average in 50 games.

Her hits (70), RBIs (40), doubles (eight), triples (nine), home runs (five) and at-bats (180) were Cypress single-season records.

Ferrante was selected Orange Empire Conference player of the year, and Cypress finished second to Fullerton.

The Chargers finished fourth in the state tournament, and Ferrante was voted to the all-state team.

Ferrante took the summer off from fast-pitch softball for the first time since she was 8. She also played some slow-pitch softball, but for the most part relaxed.

Small package: Vincent Smalls, a former basketball standout at Saddleback College, is trying a new sport at Hawaii.

Smalls, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward who was a first-team all-defensive selection in the Western Athletic Conference this season, hopes to use his defensive skills as a linebacker.

“I’m just going to go out and see what I can do,” Smalls said.

Coach Bob Wagner projects Smalls, a senior who will have freshman eligibility in football, as a pass-rushing outside linebacker and a special teams player.

“He’s certainly a good athlete,” Wagner said. “He showed some toughness on the basketball court. Right now, we’re trying to see if he can become proficient as a pass rusher.”

Wagner said he’s not concerned with Smalls’ size, saying football savvy and technique are more important.

Smalls will be given a one-year scholarship.

When Saddleback Coach Bill Otta says this season’s men’s tennis team might be one of his best, it’s time to take notice.

Otta has coached Saddleback to three state titles (1984, ’88 and ‘89). Saddleback has also won 11 consecutive conference championships since he took over in 1979.

The Gauchos also own eight Southern California championships.

This season’s team is 16-0 overall, 8-0 in the Orange Empire Conference. Saddleback is 278-57 in duel matches under Otta.

Hot bats: Rancho Santiago’s Conrad Colby and Cypress’ Doug McConathy and Troy Babbitt were impressive at the plate last week.

Colby was six for 10 with a double and seven RBIs. He had six walks, scored four runs and raised his batting average from .404 to .428.

Babbitt was seven for nine with two doubles, three RBIs and raised his average from .307 to .345.

McConathy was six for 10, scored four runs, had two RBIs and raised his average from .368 to .388.

Colby’s torrid pace could be slowed by an ankle injury he suffered rounding second base in Saturday’s 15-5 victory over Riverside.

“We’ll have to wait and see how well he responds to treatment,” Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon said. “I’m being optimistic, but his ankle isn’t right now.”

Community College Notes

Orange Coast’s Joe Fumi-Fiamawle, a defensive back, and Scott Sullivan, a linebacker, have signed to play at four-year colleges in the fall. Fumi-Fiamawle will attend Marshall University, and Sullivan will attend Drake.