COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Rancho Santiago Wins, 11-4, to Clinch Third Title in Row

Rancho Santiago clinched its third consecutive Orange Empire Conference baseball title with an 11-4 victory over Saddleback Tuesday in Santa Ana.

Sophomore catcher Robin Lindsey had four hits, including two doubles, and two runs batted in for Rancho Santiago (25-11, 16-6 in conference).

Rene Arias had two doubles and an RBI and Jeff Higbee and Chris Lugo each had two hits and two RBIs for the Dons.

Mike Fontana (11-0) allowed four runs in eight innings and had three strikeouts. Tom Waterman (4-6) took the loss for Saddleback (16-19-1, 9-14).

In other conference games:

Orange Coast 8, Golden West 0--Mike Cutler (4-2) pitched a four-hitter, striking out seven and walking none. He retired the final 13 batters for OCC (20-14, 11-11), which moved into a third-place tie with Fullerton. No Golden West runner advanced past second base.

It was the 399th victory for OCC Coach Mike Mayne, who is stepping down at the end of the season.

Daniel Hernandez had a two-run double as OCC (20-1 4, 11-11) scored four runs in the second inning. He added a three-run triple in the seventh. Greg Folsum had three hits and scored two runs and Dan Redington and Hernandez had three hits each for OCC, which stranded 15 runners.

Golden West is 15-19-1, 8-14.

Cypress 8, Riverside 4--Cypress (25-17, 11-12) kept its playoff hopes alive with the victory at home. Cypress, which has won five consecutive conference games, is a half-game out of third place.

Andy Trumpour (7-3) pitched eight-plus innings, allowing seven hits and striking out eight. Rick Orr relieved Trumpour after a leadoff walk in the ninth. Orr got a groundout but walked the next two to load the bases. He recorded a strikeout and groundout to end the game.

Riverside (24-13, 12-10) led, 4-1, going into the sixth, but Cypress rallied for six runs. Charles Gipson singled to open the inning, and Ryan Hamilton reached first on a two-base error. David Newhan had an RBI groundout and Kevin Clark had a run-scoring double.

Jason Hodges singled to put runners on first and third and Greg Cole drove in Clark with a single to tie it, 4-4. Tony Martinez then doubled in a run to put Cypress ahead, 5-4. Abijah Alastra had a sacrifice fly and Chris Hoffman an RBI single to make it 7-4.

Jeff Shinar (6-1) took the loss for Riverside.