Saddleback Uses Its Depth to Win Men’s Track Meet

Saddleback won only five events, but used its depth to sweep the triangular meet with Rancho Santiago and Golden West in Orange Empire Conference men’s track and field Friday at Golden West.

Saddleback finished with 69 points, followed by Rancho Santiago (60) and Golden West (51).

The Gauchos (5-0) swept the shotput and placed first and second in the discus. Simo Tagoa recorded first place finishes for Saddleback in the high jump and triple jump. Brian Mitzel won the 800 and 1,500 to lead Rancho Santiago (4-2). Mel Lete won the 400 hurdles and the long jump for Golden West (2-3).

In Orange Empire Conference women’s track and field:

Golden West 68, Saddleback 64, Rancho Santiago 43--A disqualification of Saddleback’s 400-meter relay team was the difference between first and second as host Golden West (4-2) swept the triangular meet.

Kim Watts won the 400 hurdles and javelin and scored 19 3/4 points in a combined seven events to lead Golden West (4-2). Moore won the 400 and the triple jump and scored 16 1/2 points for the Rustlers. Toni McDaniel won four events, the 100, 200, 100 hurdles, and long jump to lead Saddleback and was part of the Gauchos’ winning 4 X 100 relay team.

In Orange Empire Conference baseball:

Rancho Santiago 12, Riverside 2--Matt Ward gave up 10 hits over seven innings as Rancho Santiago ended Riverside’s 16-game winning streak. Ward is 3-0.

Rick Gonzalez had two hits and four runs batted in for the Dons (15-1, 3-0). Erick Sobek also had two hits and two RBIs for Rancho Santiago.

In South Coast Conference men’s swimming:

Golden West 73, Mt. San Antonio 21--Eric Larson won the 200-yard butterfly in 1 minute 59.99 seconds for Golden West (2-0), which also defeated Pasadena, 83-6, in a triangular meet. Larson also posted a 52.8-second butterfly split in the 400-medley relay, which Golden West won in 3:39.00.