Pirates primed for state

Barry Faulkner

Orange Coast College baseball hopes to celebrate the 25th anniversary

of its last state title by winning another in the four-team state

championship tournament that begins today at Fresno City College.

The Pirates (29-16), who defeated fellow Orange Empire Conference

co-champion Santa Ana, 7-6, Sunday to win its super regional, will

meet host Fresno (34-6) at 6 p.m. to open the double-elimination

event scheduled to conclude Monday.

It’s the first night game of the season for Coach John Altobelli’s

Pirates, who will likely be dealing with a pro-Fresno capacity crowd

of around 700.

“It’s huge,” Altobelli said of the Rams’ home-field advantage. OCC

enjoyed playing at home this season, winning 20 of its 25 home games.

Fresno, which won the most recent of its five state titles in

1992, played a handful of night games this season.

Altobelli said his team practiced under the lights Wednesday at UC

Irvine and he hopes his hitters can quickly adjust to the different

look that night games present.

Adjusting to being behind hasn’t been a problem for the Pirates,

who have won 12 of their last 15, including eight one-run victories,

the majority of which were come-from-behind triumphs.

OCC is 12-5 this year in one-run contests, prompting some to

credit good fortune for some of the team’s success.

“Some of the guys get a little frustrated when they hear people

say we’re lucky, but we just want to keep getting lucky,” Altobelli

said.

The team, in fact, has adopted the phrase “Get Lucky,” as a motto

and a sign with the slogan was taped up in the Pirates’ dugout during

the super regional.

Perhaps a better explanation for OCC’s first trip to the Final

Four since 1993 is a scrappy and talented lineup led by five

sophomores, as well as freshman Stephen Schneider.

Sophomore first baseman Robbie Blauer leads the team with a .367

batting average (69 for 188) with 35 RBIs.

Sophomore outfielder and closer Luke Beck, who joins Blauer as the

only Pirates to start all 45 games, is hitting .348 with six home

runs and 39 RBIs. The Co-MVP of the conference was also 2-1 with nine

saves and a 1.75 ERA in 16 relief appearances.

Sophomore shortstop Matt Cline (.343 with 23 RBIs and a team-high

18 stolen bases) provides spark from the leadoff spot.

Sophomore catcher Josh Banda (.321) and Schneider (.317), a

designated hitter who had the game-winning RBI double in the super

regional title game, share the team lead with nine homers.

Schneider’s 43 RBIs also top the squad, followed by Banda’s 41.

Sophomore center fielder Stephen Cope (.344) has 21 RBIs.

Third baseman Gary Gattis (five homers and 24 RBIs), right fielder

Matt Meadows (.305 with 17 RBIs) and second baseman Danny Gonzalez,

who sparkles defensively, are freshmen who round out the typical

starting lineup.

Altobelli said freshman Kyle Hogue (3-0 with a 3.35 ERA) is the

likely starter today.

Freshmen Daniel Cooper (8-3, 3.34) and Mark Haderlein (5-0, 4.21)

join Beck as bullpen stalwarts, while sophomores Ryan Clear (5-3,

4.84), Steven Johns (2-1, 5.54) and John Sternberg (1-4, 5.70) could also get starting assignments.

Freshman lefty Keith Rizor (3-1, 3.12 in eight starts), whom

Altobelli said was the team’s regular-season ace, has a tender arm,

putting his availability in question.

Fresno is led by sophomore starting pitchers Andy Underwood (9-1,

2.55 with 103 strikeouts in 86 innings), a right-hander who has

signed with Fresno State, and lefty Rollie Gibson (9-2, 2.19 with 87

strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings).

Gibson and 6-foot-5, 250-pound first baseman Chad Rothford have

both signed with Oral Roberts. Rothford leads the team with five

homers and 51 RBIs and is hitting .382.

Sophomore Jason Sadoian is hitting .432 after going 8 for 14 in

the super regional.

The tournament also includes Palomar (32-9) and Santa Rosa

(29-13), which meets at 11 a.m. today.

Three games Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m., will produce two

finalists, who could play two games, if necessary, Monday, beginning

at 11 a.m.

OCC is bidding for its fourth state title, having also won in 1960

and 1956.