COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLAYOFFS : Rancho Santiago Hopes to Take the Next Big Step in Softball

The Rancho Santiago softball team is hoping to continue on a course of natural progression in the Southern California playoffs that start today.

Kim Nutter took over as coach in 1992 and the Dons missed the playoffs by a game. The next year, they made it but were eliminated in two games. Last season, Rancho Santiago reached the regional final but lost to Palomar.

This season, Rancho Santiago won the Orange Empire Conference, and is playing host to one of the four regional playoffs.

The Dons (29-10) open against Pasadena (16-17) at noon today and Antelope Valley (30-12) meets Mt. San Antonio (16-13) at 2 p.m. also at Rancho Santiago. The winners play at 4 p.m.

The regional concludes Saturday with the winner moving on to the State tournament May 19-21 at Riverside.

Rancho Santiago is led by sophomore shortstop Christina Mazurie, who hit .382, stole 19 bases and drove in 17 runs during the regular season. Renee Taylor hit .373 with a team-high 27 runs batted in. Kristi Bolle had 26 RBIs.

Amy Tessman of Rancho Santiago is 19-7 with a 1.07 earned-run average.

Cypress (44-8) finished second in conference and also plays host to a regional. The Chargers have reached the State tournament the last six seasons, winning the title in 1991. Cypress opens against College of the Desert (19-13) at noon.

Saddleback (22-14) plays Hancock (30-12) at 2 p.m.

Cypress is led by Jenny Lopez, who hit .319 and has a 14-3 record with six saves. Debbie Goddu is 15-3, with six saves, has an ERA of 0.29 and walked four and struck out 59 in 122 2/3 innings.

Christa Saindon is hitting .319 and has driven in 39 runs.

Fullerton (27-11) is in the regional at Long Beach. The Hornets open against Southwestern (22-10) at 2 p.m.

Fullerton is led by sophomore Stephanie Mendoza, who is 14-6 with an 0.55 ERA. She also hit .449 and had 30 RBIs.

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Baseball: Saddleback (21-17), which won its final four conference games, plays at Chaffey (30-9) in a best-of-three series that starts at 2 p.m. today. The second game is at 11 a.m. Saturday and another follows if needed, at Chaffey.

The Gauchos hit .324, the best team average in the college’s history. Pat Antrim (64 for 171) and Justin Greco (43 for 115) are at .374 and Lorne Rosas (50 for 139) and Ryan Johnson (49 for 136) hit .360.

Danny Anderson is 5-0 and Ryan McDermott is 5-1 with four saves in 22 appearances.

Rancho Santiago (34-9) closed the season winning 18 of 19.

The Dons play host to San Diego Mesa (22-18) at 2 p.m. today. Kyle Evans, the co-most valuable player in the conference, hit .429 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs.

Ryan Fullerton led the team with 51 RBIs. He is hitting .398 with eight home runs. The Dons lead the conference with 38 home runs.

Cypress (30-13-1) plays host to Moorpark (27-13) at 2 p.m. today. Cypress’ Augie Ojeda, who hit .313 and scored 54 runs in 44 games, was the other co-MVP.

Jeff Pickler hit .365 with 43 RBIs and scored 42 runs. David Trentine hit .371.