Community college baseball: Beware of the Pirates

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - As the community college baseball season quickly draws

near, one warning is being heard throughout the Orange Empire Conference.

Beware of the Pirates.

This year’s Orange Coast College baseball team boasts 16 sophomores,

including OCC’s lone All-OEC utility player from last season, Scott

Beerer. Strong pitching, a dangerous offensive attack and a noteworthy

freshman class, featuring 5-foot-10 shortstop Donnie Murphy, make OCC a

strong contender for the conference title this season.

But the Pirates have heard of great expectations before and didn’t

meet them. They wore the underachieving tag in 2000, yet overcame the

label, except for some inconsistency, with a gritty performance last

season.

Last year, OCC earned a 26-18 record and posted two regional playoff

wins. The Pirates finished a respectable 12-12 in the OEC, but this year

Coach John Altobelli is expecting much more.

“This could be my best team in my 10 years here,” Altobelli said. “It

reminds me of my first year team (which reached the final four in 1992).

Good power, good speed. We’re a team that won’t be able to sneak up on

anybody. It’s going to be a fun year. We won’t have to peck away for

runs. We won’t have to manufacture our runs.”

Altobelli’s confidence is a result of the sophomores’ potential. Led

by Beerer, the Pirates’ second-year men will concentrate on team

chemistry, and help try to overcome the stereotypes of individuality in

junior college athletics.

“I’m expecting for us to go all the way (to the final four in

Fresno),” said Beerer, who was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the

spring. “There’s no reason why we can’t. Talent-wise we’re one of the top

schools I’ve seen and now it’s a matter of how we come together.

Offensively, if everyone in the order is swinging the bat then there’s no

really stopping us.”

The Pirates expect to be powerful on offense because of their pitching

staff, led by sophomore Justin Azze, who is bound for the University of

Hawaii. Sophomores Matt Clanton, Rob Williams and Beerer solidify the

pitching, as do freshmen Kyle Allen and Garrett Murdy.

Other pitchers who will be in the mix as relievers include, freshman

left-hander Kyle Allen and freshman right-hander Garrett Murdy.

Sophomores Sam Greco, Chip Southerland and Greg Schwenn will also

compete.

Southerland went to Southwestern junior college in Oregon last season,

while Schwenn was a redshirt for Texas Tech before going to play for Cal

State Northridge.

Freshmen Jimmy Treece and Billy Pinney solidify the pitching staff

with strong arms and sophomore Al Lambert has been a surprise as of late.

Ryan Hanson, who played football at UNLV and was the back-up catcher

for the Runnin’ Rebels’ baseball team last year, will be OCC’s starting

catcher.

Sophomore Glenn Hedgpeth starts at first base. He’s the OEC’s best

first baseman, Altobelli said. Hedgpeth willingly moved from shortstop to

first because he was aware of Murphy’s immense talents.

Returning sophomore Jake Garcia is the team’s consistent second

baseman, and Murphy strengthens the infield with his shortstop play.

“He can be a guy that can be in the big leagues some day,” Altobelli

said of Murphy. “Unfortunately, we can only have him for one year because

the scouts will catch on to him.”

Sophomore Ryan Marcos, who led the team in RBIs (47) last year, will

be at third base. Marcos has signed on with the University of Hawaii

Pacific

Sophomore Chris Sinner, who has signed to play for Gonzaga next

season, is a leader in the outfield, where Beerer will mostly play.

Beerer said he will decide at season’s end if he will turn pro or play

for Texas A&M; next season.

The Pirates begin their season Friday, the first day of their Matt

O’Brien Tournament, facing San Jacinto at 2 p.m., then playing in a

doubleheader on Saturday with Eastern Utah at 10 a.m. and Deanza at 2

p.m.

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE BASEBALL

Justin Azze P So.

Scott Beerer LF/P So.

Matt Clanton P So.

Rob Williams P So.

Kyle Allen P Fr.

Garrett Murdy P Fr.

Sam Greco P So.

Chip Southerland P So.

Greg Schwenn P So.

Billy Pinney P Fr.

Al Lambert P So.

Jimmy Treece P Fr.

Ryan Hanson C So.

Cliff Cotton C So.

Aaron Purcha C Fr.

Glenn Hedgpeth 1B So.

Kyle Stanley 1B Fr.

Jake Garcia 2B So.

Donnie Murphy SS Fr.

Ryan Marcos 3B So.

Chris Sinner CF/LF So.

Jeremy Lahmann CF/LF So.

Collin Stiltz OF Fr.

Joe Morrison OF Fr.

Zack Merideth RF Fr.

Greg Benoit RF Fr.

Jarred Lewis DH So.

Coach: John Altobelli