COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL / STATE TOURNAMENT : Rancho Santiago Hopes to Duck Ambush by Host Fresno

Don Sneddon, the Rancho Santiago baseball coach, isn’t thrilled that his team starts the State tournament today against Fresno on the Rams’ home field.

But there is a move among coaches to find a home for the tournament, which rotates between Northern and Southern California. Fresno is using this weekend as its bid to become the permanent host.

Like several coaches, Sneddon would prefer a home site, but hopes the one selected is a neutral field.

“We’re very concerned about [Fresno playing at home],” Sneddon said. “I would have to put Fresno as the favorite. That’s a tremendous advantage playing in front of your fans on your field. I would love to have this [tournament] at Rancho Santiago.”

Despite Sneddon’s objections to the situation, he has faced it before and came away with a championship in 1993. That year, Rancho Santiago beat Sacramento twice on the Panthers’ field.

Sneddon has plenty of State tournament experience. This is the third consecutive year he has gotten his team to the final four. His teams also made it in 1986 and 1988.

But the tournament also has been the source of some pain for Sneddon. He has reached the final in each of his previous four appearances, but lost twice on the final day three times, including to Cypress last season.

“We like to look at that as you have to get there to lose it,” Sneddon said. “Sure, it bothers you because you want that brass ring. But in order to be in that position, your team has to have done a pretty good job that season.”

Rancho Santiago (39-9) and Fresno (39-11), which play at 11 a.m., are joined by Cerritos (37-12) and Sacramento (40-7), which meet at 3 p.m. If there is a team that knows more about final-day frustrations than Rancho Santiago, it’s Sacramento.

The Panthers have been runners-up in the State tournament five times since 1987.

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Rancho Santiago has won 12 games in a row and 23 of its last 24. The Dons are hitting .322 as a team, led by Kyle Evans, maybe the best player in the state.

Evans, a sophomore first baseman from Cal State Fullerton and Katella High, is hitting .434. He has 12 home runs, 18 doubles and 59 runs batted in in 47 games.

Ryan Fullerton, a freshman outfielder, is at .380 with nine home runs and 57 RBIs. David Mallas, a sophomore second baseman, is at .409. Chad Henderson, a freshman outfielder, is hitting .328.

Although many of the hitters struggled early on, Rancho Santiago’s pitching has been solid from the start.

Kirk Irvine, a sophomore right-hander, pitched a no-hitter in his first start and has continued to be impressive. He is 11-3 with a 2.34 earned-run average. He went the first 118 innings this season without giving up a home run and has given up one in 127 innings. He has 94 strikeouts and 29 walks. He will start against Fresno.

Luis Estrella, a sophomore right-hander, is 8-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He is coming off a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles Pierce.

Brian Martineau (6-1, four saves) returned last weekend after missing a month because of a broken hand.

“Marty being back gives us a big lift,” Sneddon said. “The players really respond to him. It’s a real boost.”

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Tournament Notes

Cerritos starts the tournament with nine State championships, the most recent in 1989. Fresno has five, winning last in 1992. Sacramento had three, winning it most recently at UC Irvine in 1988. The tournament continues Sunday with the first-round winners playing at 11 a.m. at Fresno and the losers at 10 a.m. at Clovis High. The title game is at 11 a.m. Monday and the second game follows if needed at Fresno.