OCC Defeats Canyons in Baseball Opener

Tom Barilla, who failed to win a game last season, gave up two runs in seven innings for his first victory as Orange Coast beat College of the Canyons, 7-2, in a Copperhead tournament baseball game Sunday at OCC.

Barilla was 0-4 with an 8.15 earned-run average as a freshman. He gave up six hits, struck out eight and walked one Sunday. It was the season opener for both teams.

Craig Ritter had the key hit for OCC, a two-run double in the sixth to break a 2-2 tie.

Joe Jones had three hits and scored two runs and Craig Ritter hit a home run in his first collegiate at-bat in the second for OCC.

Rain and wet grounds caused three of the four games scheduled at Orange Coast to be postponed.

In another tournament game:

Rancho Santiago 7, Los Angeles Pierce 6--Matt Ward, a freshman left-hander from Irvine High, pitched well in relief for host Rancho Santiago (1-0).

Ward came into the game with two runners on and none out in the fifth inning. He got a fly out then a double-play grounder to end the threat.

He gave up one run the rest of the way for his first victory. It was the season-opener for both teams.

David Rojo had three hits, a walk and scored two runs and Ryan Fullerton had a two-run single for Rancho Santiago.

It was the 16th consecutive victory over two seasons for Rancho Santiago, which won the final 15 games of last season.

The Dons also have won two of the last three state titles.