FRESNO – Not knowing at the start of the weekend if either Hill brothers would be able to see any action for Orange Coast College at the California Community College Athletic Association State Baseball Championships, Jacob Hill pitched eight innings in the championship semifinals. And then, in the finals on Monday, David Hill tossed seven innings to help lead the Pirates (36-9) to a 5-3 win over San Joaquin Delta College (35-11) for their fifth title in school history and second since 2009. In that year, OCC defeated Delta.
The Mustangs took an early 3-0 lead, as Hill (11-1) appeared shaky on a tender ankle. With one out in the bottom of the first inning, Kris Bartlett singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. With two outs, CJ Owens followed with an infield single for an early lead. San Joaquin Delta added two more in the second inning, with Collin Theroux clubbing a solo home run. After Andrew Urbistando was hit by a pitch and Ryan Smith singled, a long fly ball advanced Urbistando to third base, where he scored on a base hit by Bartlett.
Although Hill was peppered for 11 hits, he struck out seven batters and relied on his defense to assist him, while the Pirates started coming to life.
In the top of the third inning, Jake Thumm walked to lead off the inning before Robert Longtree was hit by a pitch. Cody Bruder laid down a bunt to try and advance the runners, and when Connor Torres tried to cut Longtree at second, his throw was wide, allowing the lead runner to score. Nulph then drove in the second run of the inning on a fielder's choice.
The Pirates took the lead for good in the fifth inning on a walk by L. Grant Davis and a Nulph single, capping his career off with a 30-game hit streak. A wild pitch by relief pitcher Sam Held moved the runners up, setting the table for Chris Iriart, who drove in both runners with a base hit. OCC scored an insurance run in the seventh inning when Longtree came home on a wild pitch.
Starting pitcher Art Vidro, who tossed seven innings in the opening game of the tournament for Orange Coast, was selected the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The Hill brothers combined to pitch 15 innings and combined to allow six runs (three earned), while striking out 11. Coast ended its season with a 15-game win streak. It's the fifth baseball state championship in school history (1956, 1960, 1980, 2009, 2014) and the second in the 22-year coaching career of John Altobelli.