COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Fontana Settles Down, Rancho Santiago Wins, 5-2

Mike Fontana pitched a five-hitter, retiring the final 14 batters, and Rancho Santiago defeated Golden West, 5-2, in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Thursday in Santa Ana.

Fontana, a sophomore right-hander, struggled early, allowing a second-inning home run to Garrett DeGiorgio, the Rustlers’ No. 8 hitter. He allowed a two-out RBI double in the third to Robert Pickering as Golden West took a 2-1 lead.

Fontana hit DeGiorgio and walked No. 9 hitter Danny Dwyer with one out in the fourth, but he got out of the inning with a line-drive out and ground ball.

Marty Osborne opened the fifth with a single, but, one out later, was erased as part of a double play. That was the last baserunner Fontana (5-0) allowed.

He struck out five, including the first two hitters in the ninth.

“We feel better as he goes along,” Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon said about Fontana. “He’s been nails all season for us.”

Golden West’s David Vergara gave up a run and no hits in the first four innings, but allowed a hit, hit a batter and walked two in the fifth before being replaced. He walked Jeff Higbee with the bases loaded in the fifth to tie it, 2-2.

Golden West reliever Christopher Smith started the sixth by yielding a double to Robin Lindsey. Pinch-hitter Marco Perez beat out a bunt, Lindsey moving to third.

Chris Lugo followed with a two-run triple off the fence in left-center, and scored on a passed ball.

The victory moves Rancho Santiago (14-7-1, 7-3-1 in conference) into first place, a game ahead of Saddleback, which lost to Cypress, 9-3, Thursday.

Golden West is 10-9-1, 3-6.

In other Orange Empire Conference baseball games:

Cypress 9, Saddleback 3 (8 innings, darkness)--Todd Blyleven struck out nine, walked three and allowed no earned runs for Cypress (15-10, 4-7). Cypress beat the other top conference team, Rancho Santiago, this week. Greg Cole had three hits and drove in two runs for the Chargers. Saddleback is 6-4-1 in conference.

Fullerton 9, Orange Coast 5--Fullerton broke it open with four runs in the fifth inning. Jason Diplock had a two-run double and Mark Rushlow also doubled in a run in the inning.