COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Rancho Santiago Claims Softball Title

Rancho Santiago won the Orange Empire Conference softball title Monday with a 9-0 victory over visiting Irvine Valley.

The Dons (29-10, 19-2 in conference) started the day tied with Cypress, but the Chargers lost to third-place Fullerton, 1-0, in eight innings.

It was the first conference title for Rancho Santiago Coach Kim Nutter, who is in her fourth season.

Christine Mazurie had two hits including a double, scored two runs and drove in two. She singled in the first inning to become the first Rancho Santiago player to get 100 career hits.

In other conference games:

Fullerton 1, Cypress 0 (8)--Julie Littman’s double in the eighth drove home pinch-runner Christy Kerbs with the winning run for host Fullerton (27-11, 15-6). Jill Otto (13-5) retired 18 of the final 19 for Fullerton.

Riverside 4, Orange Coast 1--Diane Lewis, who took over in January as the OCC coach, resigned as expected after the game. Orange Coast ends the season 11-23, 7-14 and Riverside 10-14, 8-13.

In Southern California volleyball playoffs:

Golden West 3, Long Beach 2--Greg Reitz had 24 kills as visiting Golden West beat Long Beach, 15-11, 11-15, 15-12, 5-15, 24-22.

Golden West (16-5) advanced to the State tournament Friday at Irvine Valley. The Rustlers open against Los Angeles Pierce at a time yet to be determined.

In the Southern California golf championships:

Saddleback and Cypress advance--Saddleback’s Lee Kinney shot 71-71 for a two-under 142 to win medalist honors. Cypress’ Brian Ricketts (69-74, 143) was second at Rancho California Country Club in Murrieta.

College of the Desert (730) Saddleback (744), Long Beach (747) and Cypress (749) earned berths in the State tournament Monday in Modesto.