COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Balk, Pick-Off Play Help Rancho Santiago Win, 3-2

Rancho Santiago scored a run on a balk and picked a runner off second in the ninth inning to win, 3-2, over Cypress in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Saturday at Cypress.

The Dons (16-4, 6-3 in conference) led, 3-1, but starter Brandon Hoalton walked Corey Dean-Yeager to open the ninth.

Greg Cole doubled into the right-field corner, leaving runners at second and third and no one out.

Steve Thobe relieved Hoalton and Josh Prewitt ran for Cole. But Prewitt wasn’t around long as he was picked off second.

The play started when Thobe faked a throw to second. Shortstop Brent Howes and second baseman Ryan Andersen dived as if there was a wild throw. Center fielder Tony Truel also came running in.

Despite all the yelling from the Cypress coaches and bench to stay at second, Prewitt started toward third and was tagged out by Thobe.

Thobe got Josh Kliner to ground to first for the second out as pinch-runner Wes Brasher scored from third.

Cypress got singles from Gary Manley and Eric Stevens but Kevin Clark grounded out to end the game.

The teams were scoreless for the first five innings, but Andersen opened the sixth with a home run for Rancho Santiago.

Cypress tied it, 1-1, in the seventh on a RBI single from Stevens, but Rancho Santiago came right back when Thobe opened eighth with a home run.

Rancho Santiago went ahead, 3-1, in the ninth when Cypress reliever Rob Crabtree balked, allowing pinch-runner Todd Devaney to score from third with two outs.