COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Rancho Santiago’s Seventh-Inning Rally Defeats Orange Coast

Rancho Santiago scored four runs in the seventh inning on only one hit to break open a tight game and go on to beat Orange Coast, 6-3, in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Saturday in Santa Ana.

Rancho Santiago, the two-time defending conference champion, led, 2-0, to start the seventh. But with one out, OCC starter Kyle Wilson hit Tony Truel and walked Jason Minici. Ralph Lopez replaced Wilson and walked the next two batters. The second walk, to Darren Troilo, forced in a run.

Lopez was replaced by Carlos Cevallos, who gave up a two-run double to Ryan Andersen to put the Dons up, 5-0. Steve Thobe’s sacrifice fly scored the final run.

OCC rallied for three runs in the eighth on an Justin Halper’s RBI single and Greg Folsom’s two-run double.

OCC also got the first two runners on in the ninth against reliever Ethan Wychoff, who was replaced by Jason Dietrich. Dietrich got two fly-ball outs to left field and a called third strike against Jarrett Murphy to end the game.

With the victory, Rancho Santiago (14-3, 4-2 in conference) pulled into a first-place tie with Orange Coast (10-7, 4-2).

While it’s still too early to worry much about the title race, Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon found reason for concern Saturday.

Ryan Filbeck, the Dons’ starting pitcher, left in the sixth inning because of tightness in his right forearm.

Filbeck (4-1) still was the winner. Wilson (1-3) was the loser.

Rancho Santiago shortstop Brent Howes had an RBI single in the second, and in the fifth singled and later scored on an error to account for Rancho Santiago’s first two runs.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Cypress 9, Golden West 2--Greg Tippin had three hits and two RBIs to lead Cypress (13-7, 3-3). Chris Larson had three hits including a home run for Golden West (8-8, 3-3).

At the Bronco/Green Magma track and field invitational:

Golden West has strong showings--Mike McClintock of Golden West won the javelin throw with a toss of 189 feet-1 inch. Bob Elliott, also of Golden West, finished third with a throw of 182-10.