Unbeaten Saddleback Collides With Dons

A rematch of the last year’s state title game and Saddleback’s undefeated streak are both in the news during the early going of the Orange Empire Conference baseball race.

Jack Hodges’ Saddleback team is 16-0 overall and is 4-0 in conference. The Gauchos are at Orange Coast (8-9, 1-2) at 2 p.m. today then host Rancho Santiago (16-1, 4-0) at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Cypress (16-3, 2-1) travels to Rancho Santiago in the first meeting of the teams since Rancho Santiago beat the Chargers last May in Fresno for its second consecutive state title.

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Hitters: Erik Sobek of Rancho Santiago is off to the hottest start among Orange County players. The sophomore third baseman is hitting .515 (34 of 66) with 10 doubles, three home runs and 20 runs batted in. He also has 13 walks and struck out only four times.

Saddleback’s Greg Ferrell is hitting .464 (26 of 56) and has driven in 22 runs. Rancho Santiago’s Kevin Duck leads in RBIs with 29 and Saddleback’s Kirk Bolling is second with 27.

Fullerton’s Bo Bryant is tops in runs scored with 26 and teammate Keith Jones leads in doubles with 12.

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Peter Campbell and Gage Oetgen of Saddleback College have signed letters of intent with Oregon State, Saddleback announced Monday.

Campbell, a receiver who graduated from Mater Dei, led the Gauchos with 43 receptions for 618 yards and two touchdowns. Oetgen, a defensive lineman and graduate of San Clemente High, had 62 tackles and led the team with nine sacks.