First-Place Cypress Has No Problem With Orange Coast

Mandy Rockwell struck out eight in three innings as visiting Cypress defeated Orange Coast, 8-0, in an Orange Empire Conference softball game called after five innings because of the mercy rule.

Rockwell improved to 16-1 for first-place Cypress (29-5, 8-1), which is the two-time defending state champions.

Yvette Martinez went two for three with a run scored and Nicole Dye and Erica Harding each scored two runs for Cypress.

Orange Coast is 4-16, 0-9.

In another softball game:

Saddleback 6, Santa Ana 2--Saddleback’s Tara Kroener tripled to lead off the eighth inning. Nicole Pruak singled to score Kroener, staring a four-run inning. Kroener also pitched a three-hitter to improve to 16-5.

In Orange Empire Conference baseball:

Saddleback 15, Golden West 9--Josh Arhart had four hits, including his fifth home run, and drove in three runs for host Saddleback (20-6, 7-4). Golden West scored twice in the seventh to tie it, 9-9, but Arhart broke the tie with a two-run homer in the eighth.

Greg Pines and Kyle Pierson had three hits each for Saddleback.

Santa Ana 8, Orange Coast 2--Thomas Duarte’s grand slam in the eighth inning sealed the victory for Santa Ana (16-10, 6-5). Richard Lane had two hits including his 10th home run, drove in three and scored three runs for Santa Ana.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s swimming:

Saddleback 118, San Diego Mesa 113; Saddleback 68, Grossmont 172--Matt Eden won the 200 breaststroke in 2:20.90 and Todd Valentine won the 200 backstroke in 2:11.67 for the Gauchos.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s track and field:

Golden West 182, Orange Coast 178, Mira Costa 124, San Bernardino Valley 78--Golden West’s Cody Jones set a school record for the triple jump with 48-6. Jones’ record breaks the previous mark of 47-11 1/2, set by David Shaw in 1995. Jones also finished second in the long jump at 22-9.