Rancho Santiago, Cypress in the Final : Baseball: After winning, 16-3, the Dons become the team to beat in the State tournament.

Rancho Santiago, the third-best team in the Orange Empire Conference this season, is in prime position to finish as the top team in the state.

The Dons got 18 hits, including three home runs, to beat Lassen, 16-3, Sunday at Cerritos College.

It was Rancho Santiago’s seventh consecutive playoff victory this season and the 11th in two years.

Rancho Santiago can win its second consecutive State title with a victory over Cypress in an 11 a.m. game. If Cypress wins the first game, a second will follow. It is the first all-Orange County final since the tournament started in 1950.

“I’ve been on both sides,” Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon said. “This thing is far from over.”

Sneddon’s 1986 an ’88 teams were in the same position but were beaten twice on the final day and finished second.

Sunday, the Dons (40-11) got key home runs from Joe Fraser, Darren Troilo and Daryle Ward.

Fraser hit a three-run homer over the 350-foot sign near the left-field line in the second inning. It was his second of the season.

One out later, Troilo hit his fifth home run, just to the left of the 410-foot sign near center field, to put the Dons ahead, 6-0. It was Troilo’s fifth overall and third of the postseason.

Ward’s home run was a line-drive to the left of the 350-foot sign down the right-field line. It was his ninth and put Rancho Santiago ahead, 8-2, to start the fourth.

“To hit three home runs in this park is an awesome feat,” said Sneddon. “We just demoralized them right off.”

Matt Kastelic and Jason Minici set Rancho Santiago career records in the game.

Kastelic started the game with a bunt single, which was the record 155th hit of his two-year Don career. He began the day tied with Conrad Colby (1989-90) at 154.

Kastelic added an RBI double in the eighth.

Minici had a single, double, triple, scored three runs and drove in three.

His fourth-inning triple was the ninth of his career, establishing a Rancho Santiago record.

Rancho Santiago got its second consecutive strong pitching performance of the tournament. Brian Martineau (6-3) threw a six-hitter and finished with six strikeouts. He is 3-0 with a save in four postseason appearances.

Brandon Hoalton pitched a complete game as Rancho Santiago beat Chabot, 8-5, in the first round Saturday.

Sneddon wouldn’t say who will start today but Kirk Irvine (8-1), Ethan Wyckoff (3-1) and Micah Stovall (5-4) have yet to throw.