For anyone who has ever been associated with Orange Empire Conference baseball, it's not that big of a surprise that a whopping seven teams have advanced to this year's California Community College Athletic Association's state playoffs. Full brackets can be found here.
A conference recognized throughout the years as one of the toughest, if not THE toughest, conference in all of California community college baseball, the OEC has produced 13 of the past 20 state champions. In 2015, seven of the eight OEC teams finished with 20-or-more wins … no other conference had more than four. Other teams in the state that took on OEC competition went a combined 35-84-1 (.296 win percentage) this year.
Number of schools per conference in this year's state baseball playoffs …
- Orange Empire – 7
- Western State, North – 4
- Bay Valley – 4
- Coast, Pacific – 4
- Big 8 – 4
- Pacific Coast – 2
- South Coast – 2
- Foothill – 2
- Central Valley – 2
- Coast, Golden State -- 2
- Golden Valley – 2
- Western State, South – 1
Team-by-team breakdown of OEC's playoff teams …
GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS
Overall Record: 23-13
Orange Empire Conference Champions (15-6)
Southern California Regional Seed: 4
Opening-Round Opponent: No. 13 Cuesta College (20-16)
Head-to-Head: Did Not Play
Players to Watch: INF Dillion Persinger (.363, 49 hits, 16 RBI, 14 stolen bases), INF Jordan Lucio (.350, 50 hits, 21 runs, 26 RBI), C Chris Williams (.338, 48 hits, 16 doubles, 3 HR, 28 RBI), RP Josh Gogue (6-3, 5 saves, 2.51 ERA, 43 strikeouts, 57 1/3 innings pitched), SP A.J. Dean (6-3, 3.53 ERA, 52 strikeouts, 71 1/3 IP).
CYPRESS COLLEGE CHARGERS
Overall Record: 25-11
OEC Record: 14-7 (2nd)
Southern California Regional Seed: 5
Opening-Round Opponent: No. 12 Fullerton College (21-15)
Head-to-Head: Fullerton leads series, 2-1
Players to Watch: INF Jackson Willeford (.378, 48 hits, 32 runs, 11 doubles, 26 RBI), INF Jack Flansburg (.366, 48 hits, 33 runs, 30 RBI), OF Austin Case (.348, 48 hits, 36 runs, 20 RBI), INF Tyler Gnesda (.320, 41 hits, 4 HR, 37 RBI), SP Nathan Kuchta (9-1, 2.52 ERA, 73 strikeouts, 89 1/3 IP), SP Jaret Vermillon (6-2, 3.50 ERA, 47 strikeouts, 69 1/3 IP), RP Payton Smith (2-0, 5 saves, 4.02 ERA).
ORANGE COAST COLLEGE PIRATES
Overall Record: 21-15
OEC Record: 12-9 (3rd)
Southern California Regional Seed: 10
Opening-Round Opponent: at No. 7 Long Beach City College (21-15)
Head-to-Head: Orange Coast leads series, 2-1
Players to Watch: INF Jeff Nellis (.343, 35 hits, 17 runs, 12 RBI), OF Tommy Bell (.331, 43 hits, 30 runs, 12 doubles, 26 RBI), C Jack Kruger (.305, 40 hits, 26 runs, 17 RBI), SP Art Vidrio (7-1, 2 CG, 2.96 ERA, 56 strikeouts, 79 IP), RP Dominic Purpura (3-1, 7 saves, 2.91 ERA, 34 strikeouts, 58 2/3 IP).
SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS
Overall Record: 23-13
OEC Record: 10-11 (T-4th)
Southern California Regional Seed: 11
Opening-Round Opponent: at No. 6 San Bernardino Valley College (23-13)
Head-to-Head: Did Not Play
Players to Watch: OF Brett Barker (.349, 44 hits, 19 runs, 29 RBI), INF Dan James (.333, 41 hits, 25 runs, 5 HR, 22 RBI), INF Colby Schultz (.322, 48 hits, 34 runs, 13 doubles, 14 RBI), SP Dominique Key (6-2, 2.61 ERA, 39 strikeouts, 58 2/3 IP), SP Cameron Aufderheide (6-0, 2.91 ERA, 22 strikeouts, 58 2/3 IP) RP Trevor Charpie (2-2, 3 saves, 2.27 ERA, 44 strikeouts, 43 2/3 IP).
FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS
Overall Record: 21-15
OEC Record: 10-11 (T-4th)
Southern California Regional Seed: 12
Opening-Round Opponent: at No. 5 Cypress College (25-11)
Head-to-Head: Fulerton leads series, 2-1
Players to Watch: INF Oscar Heredia (.351, 40 hits, 17 runs, 23 RBI), C Julio Rivera (.351, 40 hits, 22 runs, 21 RBI, 12 SBs), INF Laine Huffman (.319, 45 hits, 27 runs, 17 RBI), SP Dylan Prohoroff (9-3, 3 CGs, 2.09 ERA, 82 strikeouts, 90 1/3 IP), RP Randall Ortiz (2-1, 5 saves, 1.85 ERA, 16 strikeouts, 24 1/3 IP).
IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE LASERS
Overall Record: 20-16
OEC Record: 10-11 (T-4th)
Southern California Regional Seed: 17
Opening-Round Opponent: at No. 16 L.A. Mission College (22-14)
Head-to-Head: Did Not Play
Players to Watch: INF Lucas Tancas (.353, 48 hits, 21 runs, 12 RBI), OF Trey Ryan (.342, 27 hits, 13 runs), OF Brett Hamilton (.298, 39 hits, 19 runs, 11 XBH, 18 RBI), SP Justin Zielinski (7-2, 7 CGs, 1.21 ERA, 13 earned runs, 97 IP), SP Ryan Abady (7-3, 3 CGs, 1.87 ERA, 17 earned runs, 82 IP).
RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE TIGERS
Overall Record: 21-15
OEC record: 9-12 (7th)
Southern California Regional Seed: 18
Opening-Round Opponent: at No. 15 Cerritos College (22-14)
Head-to-Head: Did Not Play
Players to Watch: OF Logan Griffin (.377, 46 hits, 22 runs, 11 XBH, 15 RBI), INF Brody Weiss (.314, 49 hits, 29 runs, 17 XBH, 31 RBI), OF David Schuknecht (.305, 39 hits, 28 runs, 15 XBH, 29 RBI), SP Austin Sodders (7-1, 2 CGs, 2.03 ERA, 58 strikeouts, 79 2/3 IP).