COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Four Orange County Teams Vie for Southern California Title

Rancho Santiago is one of four Orange County teams that open Southern California baseball playoffs at noon today.

The Dons, who have won four consecutive Orange Empire Conference titles, play host to Palomar in the best-of-three series. The teams meet again at 11 a.m. Sunday. If a third game is needed, it would be played Sunday.

Rancho Santiago (33-8) is led by leadoff batter Matt Kastelic, who hit .423. Derek Brown drove in a team-high 39 runs. The Dons hit a conference-best .324 as a team.

Brandon Hoalton (10-0), Ryan Filbeck (5-1) and Jason Dietrich (5-1) and reliever Steve Thobe (nine saves) give the Dons solid pitching.

Palomar (24-20) was one of three teams to tie for the Pacific Coast Conference title.

In today’s other noon playoff games:

Saddleback (29-12) at San Diego Mesa (27-13)--The Gauchos are in the playoffs for the first time since 1984 and already have set a single-season record for victories.

Justin Drizos, a sophomore first baseman, hit .391, and sophomore second baseman Neil Garcia hit .367. Craig Ainsworth is 6-2 with a 2.07 earned-run average.

Cypress (27-15) at Mt. San Antonio (29-9)--The Chargers are led by Kevin Clark, the Orange Empire Conference player of the year. He hit .385 with 26 doubles, nine home runs, and 53 RBIs. Teammate Greg Tippin had a conference-best 11 home runs.

San Bernardino Valley (30-10) at Orange Coast (24-16)--The Pirates hit .305 as a team, led by designated hitter Jason Parsons. He hit .368 with five home runs and 44 RBIs. This is OCC’s first trip to the playoffs since 1989.

Aaron Weiss hit .357 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. Paul McDaniels stole 16 bases, Rich Ernst had 15 and Curtis Bruce 14.