Rodarte Named Orange Empire Player of Year

Orange Empire Conference baseball coaches have voted Raul Rodarte of Rancho Santiago College player of the year.

Rodarte, a sophomore shortstop, hit .385 overall and .426 in 24 conference games for the Dons, who won the title for the second consecutive year and third time in four seasons.

Rodarte had 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 15 stolen bases and 49 runs batted in.

Don Sneddon of Rancho Santiago was named coach of the year.

The coaches’ first team:

P: Gary Adcock (Riverside), Ben Blomdahl (Riverside), Jim Burchit (Fullerton), Paul O’Hearn (Rancho Santiago), J.J. Thobe (Rancho Santiago). C: Robin Lindsey (Rancho Santiago), Matt Smith (Riverside). 1B: Doug McConathy (Cypress), Brian Walker (Saddleback). IF: Troy Babbitt (Cypress), Jason Bates (Cypress), Sean Drinkwater (Cypress), Raul Rodarte (Rancho Santiago), Mark Wasikowski (Rancho Santiago). DH: Mike Alto (Riverside). OF: Kevin Cook (Cypress), Matt McElreath (Riverside), Jason White (Golden West), Jeff White (Rancho Santiago), Tom Wilson (Fullerton). U: Gerad Cawhorn (Golden West), Tom Puppe (Cypress).