With a combined record of 78-25 against the rest of the state, the Orange Empire Conference kicks off conference play on Saturday and with a new three-in-a-row format, the tensions will be ratcheted up a few more notches this season.
Since the conference was formed in 1986, 16 state champions in 30 seasons have come from the Orange Empire Conference, including three state crowns from Riverside City College (2000-02) and back-to-back crowns from Santa Ana (formerly Rancho Santiago) College (1995-96) and Orange Coast College (2014-15).
With six teams already with 10-or-more wins and the defending-champion Pirates overcoming a slow start with a six-game win streak, all eight teams currently reside in the top-16 baseball clubs in Southern California, according to the recent CCCBCA polls and the conference is up for grabs as the race for the state's top prize picks up steam with the start of OEC play.
In the order of the current nonconference standings, here is a breakdown of each team as they begin their 24-game conference stretch.
SANTA ANA
12-1 overall
Southern California Rankings – No. 3
First-year SAC head coach Tom Nilles, who won a CCCAA state title with Sierra College back in 2008, brings a winning attitude to the Dons and the team has embraced the new spirit with wins in 12 of their first 13 contests. Santa Ana has outscored the opposition 113-68 in nonconference play, thanks to a .321 team batting average and 12 home runs. Sophomore Colin Winn leads the Dons with 21 hits, 16 runs and a .396 batting average, while slugger Patrick Cromwell has 17 hits, 16 runs, three home runs and a team-best 18 RBI to go along with his .333 average.
On the mound, sophomore reliever Andrew Hodges has been dominant, going 4-0 with three saves and a 0.96 ERA, while freshman starter Daniel Garcia has racked up a 3-0 record with a 3.64 ERA. Hurler Guillermo Sanchez leads the staff with 20 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings to go along with a 2-1 record and a 3.18 ERA.
CYPRESS
10-2 overall
Southern California Rankings – No. 5
Coach Scott Pickler's Chargers slugged their way to a conference-best 10-game win streak before getting tripped up, 2-0, against El Camino on Tuesday. With a steady supply of offense (.317 team batting average) and a steady supply of arms on the mound (2.96 team ERA), the Chargers have very few weaknesses. Sophomore Nick Reeser has been on fire to start 2016, hitting .469 with 15 hits, four doubles and 11 RBI, while freshman catcher Nathan Rodriguez has enjoyed early success with a .387 average, 17 hits, 12 runs and 11 RBI.
Sophomore righty Tylor Megill has led the starting staff with a 4-0 record in four starts, allowing just six earned runs in 25 1/3 innings with 19 strikeouts and a 2.13 ERA. Sophomore lefty Joseph Mercado (2.55 ERA) and freshman righty Henry Martinez (3.52 ERA) are each 2-1 and the duo have combined for 30 strikeouts.
FULLERTON
10-2 overall
Southern California Rankings – No. 6
Nick Fuscardo's Hornets have come out stinging the ball in 2016 and are second in the OEC with a .331 team batting average. A seven-game win streak was snapped with an 8-7 loss to Canyons, but Fullerton bounced back with a 14-4 win on Tuesday at Mt. San Antonio. Sophomore Laine Huffman has paced the FC offense with a .447 average, 21 hits, 15 runs, 12 RBI and seven stolen bases, while slugger Autin O'Banion is close behind with a .409 average, 18 hits, 15 runs, nine extra-base hits and a team-best 20 RBI. Freshman outfielders Joey Parente (.382, 21 hits seven doubles, 14 runs) and Shane Carrier (.365, 19 hits, 16 runs, 18 RBI) give the Hornets a very impressive top of the batting order.
Fullerton's starting staff of Junior Ramirez, Anthony Parente and Randall Ortiz are a combined 6-1 and have thrown 69 innings and allowed just 18 earned runs with 54 strikeouts. Relivers Louis Corral and Nick Vega have each appeared in seven of the Hornets' 12 games and are averaging nearly a strikeout per inning.
SADDLEBACK
10-2 overall
Southern California Rankings – No. 1
Coach Sommer McCartney's Gauchos are the top team in Southern California, according to the latest CCCBCA rankings, thanks to a 9-0 record to start the season. The Gauchos stubbed their toe a bit with a 1-2 stretch to end the nonconference campaign, but that's nothing to be concerned with when you have a .319 team batting average and a conference-best 2.10 team ERA. Sophomore slugger Jared Donahoe has been on FIRE with a conference-best .548 batting average, 23 hits, 12 runs, three home runs and 15 RBI. His .929 slugging percentage and .600 on-base percentage also top the conference rankings.
The Gaucho pitching staff has been anchored by sophomore John Sheaks, who is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings. Closer Domnique Key has earned two saves and not allowed an earned run in seven innings thus far.
GOLDEN WEST
10-3 overall
Southern California Rankings – No. 4
Bert Villareal has his Rustlers playing as good, if not better, than last year's OEC championship team. After starting 1-1, GWC won 9-of-10 before falling in 10 innings to Cerritos to close out nonconference play. With a conference-best .341 team batting average, there are plenty of impressive numbers to go around. Sophomore Dillon Persinger leads the way with a .417 batting average, 20 hits, 14 runs and 11 RBI, while three sophomores – Tyler Depreta (.386), Gianna Castillo (.347) and Cody Marshall (.347) have collected 17 hits apiece to go along with 29 RBI and 27 runs scored.
Sophomore hurler Tyler Tungate is 3-0 in five starts with a complete game and a 1.54 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 35 innings. Fellow sophomore Cody Marshall has a pair of complete games to along with a 3-1 record, 27 strikeouts and a 3.41 ERA.
RIVERSIDE
10-3 overall
Southern California Rankings – No. 8
A seven-game win streak helped highlight the start of the 2016 season for coach Dennis Rogers' RCC Tigers. Despite a low team average of .274, the Tigers still have a trio of weapons who have found early success. Sophomore outfielder Casey Sheehan is hitting .378 with 17 hits, 12 runs and eight stolen bases, while Dean Miller is hitting .320 with 16 hits and a team-best 13 RBI. Also keep an eye on freshman Ryan Mota, whil has 14 hits, six doubles two home runs and 10 RBI go to along with a .318 batting average.
Sophomore starter Sabino Ramirez is 3-1 with a stellar 1.23 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings, while fellow starter Angel Delgado is 4-1 with a complete game and a 2.78 ERA, striking out 33 in 32 1/3 innings.
ORANGE COAST
9-6 overall
Southern California Rankings – No. 14
The two-time defending state champion Pirates have bounced back from an abnormally cold start, winning six straight after starting 3-6. Freshman shortstop J.T. Navarro (.400 batting average, 20 hits, nine runs) has been a consistent slugger on a team that has struggled to find offensive consistency. Sophomore Chris Prescott has also been steady with a .367 average, 19 hits an dnine runs, while catcher/designated hitter Andrew Garcia has batted .412 with 14 hits in just 34 at-bats and a team-best 10 RBI.
The success of John Altobelli's Pirates has come from the pitcher's mound, where OCC garners an impressive 2.47 team ERA and is led by reliever Ryan Randel, who has threw 16 innings without allowing an earned run with 11 strikeouts and a 2-0 record in six appearances. Starters Michael Giancone (3-1, 1.24 ERA, 24 strikeouts), Jack Pabich (1-0, 1.89 ERA, 24 strikeouts in 19 innings), Colin Ashworth (1-0, 2.05 ERA, 13 strikeouts) and Casey Costello (2-1, 2.92 ERA, 17 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings) have all shows flashes of dominance, allowing the Pirates to fight their way through their hitting troubles.
IRVINE VALLEY
7-6 overall
Southern California Rankings – No. 16
Coach Kent Madole's Lasers are always a tough team to play at any time during the season and have pulled off impressive wins over Moorpark, Mt. San Antonio and L.A. Valley along the way this year. With a .298 team batting average, the Lasers are led by sophomore outfielder Clint Jack with a .426 average, 26 hits, and 10 runs, while close behind is teammate Jordan Gillerman (.360, 18 hits, 12 runs).
Starters Kyle Goodbrand (3-2, 3.97 ERA), Adam Lamar (1-2, 4.35 ERA) and Ryan Abady (1-1, 4.38 ERA) have combined for 67 1/3 innings, while top reliever Cole Millerd is 1-1 with a save and a 0.84 ERA in 21 1/3 innings (seven appearances).