OCC banged up for opener

OCC baseball preview storyPirates captured share of first conference title in 18 seasons, en route to four-team state tourney appearance in 2005.The Orange Coast College baseball team enters the season in the same state its ballpark spent most of the offseason -- undergoing repair.

The Pirates have several key returners from last year’s 29-18 team that advanced to the four-team state tournament. It was OCC’s first trip to the state championships in 12 seasons and Coach John Altobelli’s Pirates shared the Orange Empire Conference crown, the program’s first conference title since 1987.

But any true read on how good the Pirates can be this season may have to wait a few weeks, due to injuries affecting numerous players entering today’s 2 p.m. opener at College of the Desert.

“We’re dinged up throughout the lineup right now,” said Altobelli, the Orange Empire Coach of the Year in all sports last year who is entering his 14th season at the Pirates’ helm. “And we have a lot of arms still up in the air.”

Stephen Schneider, who led the team with 43 RBIs last season, is recovering from a separated shoulder and won’t play for at least the first week, Altobelli said.

Returning outfielder Matt Meadows is day-to-day after being hit in the hand by a pitch recently.

Altobelli said sophomore starting pitcher Kyle Hogue is still building arm strength after having pins removed from his ankle and missing all fall. Hogue, 3-0 last season with a 3.43 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 42 innings, will get the start today, Altobelli said.

Keith Rizor, 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA last season, will redshirt due to an arm injury, said Altobelli, who will also be without left-handed relieve specialist Justin Peterson (18 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings as a freshman last season), who is academically ineligible.

Schneider, a designated hitter, shared the team lead with nine home runs last season, then was drafted in the 46th round by the Florida Marlins. A 6-foot-5, 215-pound left-hander, he hit .331 last season, tops among returners.

Sophomore Gary Gattis is another returning starter, though he will shift from third base to center field, Altobelli said. Gattis hit .267 in 101 at-bats last season, with five home runs and 23 RBIs.

Meadows, an outfielder, hit .286 in 49 at-bats as a freshman, with three homers and 13 RBIs. He is a probable starter, when healthy, Altobelli said.

Sophomore second baseman Danny Gonzales is the other returning position player with some experience. An excellent defender, he hit .230 with six RBIs in 74 at-bats last season.

Keith Mastel, who played in 2003 but sat out last season, is back for his sophomore season. The outfielder hit .220 with two homers and 13 RBIs as a freshman.

Noteworthy among the newcomers is freshman third baseman Josh Bradbury, who starred at Corona del Mar High. Bradbury, a three-time Newport-Mesa Dream Team performer as a Sea King, hit 21 homers in three varsity seasons. He helped lead the Sea Kings to the CIF Southern Section Division IV title in 2004. He signed with UNLV out of high school, then made a stop at Loyola Marymount, but he did not play for the Lions last season.

Hogue and sophomore reliever Mark Haderlein (3-0 with a 4.26 ERA in 31 2/3 innings last season) are the most experienced members of the pitching staff.

Altobelli said Haderlein will be used as a set-up man and closer.

Sophomore Kyle Harper, a bounce-back from Fresno State, is recovered from Tommy John surgery and throwing in the 94-mph range, Alobelli said.

“Harper has already signed with Long Beach State and he has a lot [professional] scouts looking at him,” Altobelli said. “He was mainly a hitter in high school [Northwood], but he has a perfect pitcher’s body [6-4, 215].”

Keith Demorgandie, a freshman out of Trabuco Hills High, is another being counted upon to start on the bump, as is freshman Jesse Costa, who was drafted out of Magnolia High last season, Altobelli said.

Freshman lefty Colby Lehman, as well as freshmen Will Oliver, Shuhei Fujiya and Justin Tucker are also expected to contribute to the pitching staff, Altobelli said.

Freshman Chris Lum is expected to start at catcher and freshman Eric Oliver is penciled in at first base, Altobelli said.

Freshman Garrett DeGrazio and Nick Rotkowitz are battling for the shortstop job, Altobelli said.

Taylor Loop, Brandon Rocha, Jason Schmidt, Armando Ambriz, Stephen Lajkowicz and Brad Barlow are among those also expected to contribute.

“I like this group,” Altobelli said. “I think we’re as talented as we were last year, but it’s still a question as to this group’s chemistry.

“I think our [Orange Empire Conference] is definitely tougher than it was last year. Cypress is the team to beat.”

The Pirates, whose home field was overhauled during offseason improvements, open conference play March 2 at home against Fullerton.

THE PIRATES

1 Danny Gonzales So.

2 Nick Rotkowitz Fr.

3 Ryan Eccles Fr.

4 Armando Ambriz Fr.

5 Taylor Loop Fr.

6 Garrett Smith Fr.

7 Gary Gattis So.

8 Keith Demorgandie Fr.

9 Keith Mastel So.

11 Brandon Rocha Fr.

12 Matt Meadows So.

15 Shuhei Fujiya Fr.

16 Kevin Stedmen Fr.

18 Will Oliver Fr.

19 Josh Bradbury Fr.

20 Steven Brown So.

21 Steve Lajkowicz So.

22 Garrett DeGrazio Fr.

23 Eric Oliver Fr.

24 Brad Barlow Fr.

25 Chris Lum Fr.

26 Billy Gibbons Fr.

27 Ryan Shopshire Fr.

28 Kyle Harper So.

29 Jason Schmidt So.

30 Justin Tucker Fr.

31 Chris Palmer Fr.

32 Kyle Hogue So.

33 Mark Haderlein So.

34 Colby Lehman Fr.

35 Stephen Schneider So.

36 Jesse Costa Fr.

Coach: John Altobelli (14th year)

20060131GD1NFVVENo Caption20060131iffpegkf(LA)Sophomore left-hander Kyle Hogue is back to help anchor Orange Coast’s starting staff for the 2006 season.20060131itxhssncPHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Orange Coast College sophomore Gary Gattis, a starter at third base last season, shifts to center field this season.