COLLEGES:Pirates’ ‘magic’ working

“When you believe in things that you don’t understand,

Then you suffer,

Superstition ain’t the way.”

— Stevie Wonder

Superstition is more than just a between-innings tune for the Orange Coast College baseball program; or for just about any baseball program for that matter.

But the Pirates, who swept visiting College of the Canyons Friday and Saturday in the best-of-three Southern Cailfornia Regional Playoff series to advance to the Super Regionals, may have stumbled onto one that actually works.

This one involves Coach John Altobelli’s father, Jim, the patriarch of a large Altobelli clan that is usually on hand to support the team, including Jim’s son Tony Altobelli, the school’s sports information director.

It seems Jim decided to depart before the eighth inning at some point this season, as a possible catalyst for change in the fortunes of the Pirates. The team rallied to win that game, and hence, the betweenseventh-andeighth-inning bolt was subsequently empowered by the baseball gods, at least according to the Altobellis.

Well, OCC found itself down, 5-2, after 8 1/2 innings Friday against Canyons. So, true to form, Jim Altobelli exited.

What followed was a four-run rally that wound up winning the game for the Pirates.

OCC erased a 6-5 deficit after five innings, with six runs in its next three frames Sunday, en route to an 11-7 triumph that locked up the series.

Jim Altobelli, however, can’t take credit for that rally. Or can he? Turns out, he missed the contest, entirely, while competing at the Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club.

Jim Altobelli figures to be there Friday, when the Pirates (26-19) face Cuesta (26-19) in the second first-round clash at 3 p.m.

Riverside (30-17) takes on Moorpark (27-17) in the 11 a.m. game Friday.

Well, of course, don’t look for Jim after the seventh inning, if the Pirates are behind.

Adding to the challenge for John Altobelli and pitching coach Dave Bowman is an inconsistent bullpen that has rendered the Pirates somewhat less than deep on the bump.

“I’m definitely concerned with their arms,” John Altobelli said of Demorgandie and Shopshire. “They’re obviously two big pieces of the puzzle, so we’ll watch them and get them treatment during the week and, hopefully, they’ll be good to go.”

In terms of Plan B, John Altobelli said he and Bowman may be forced to get a little creative.

“I told them there are a lot of guys who haven’t pitched who could be in the mix, when it comes to crunch time,” John Altobelli said. “So they better be ready.”

But the hubbub created by a national title, including an on-campus celebration for the team attended by an estimated 350 people Wednesday, pretty well ruined those plans.

“I’ve just been trying to keep up with e-mail,” Speraw said of the first couple days after the historic victory over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. “The amount of congratulatory notes and support I’ve been given has been unbelievable.”

Speraw said he had not had the chance to talk to many prospective recruits since winning the title, but he is sure he and his coaches will have more marquee value when they pitch the Anteaters to high school players in the future.

“We did get one commitment from somebody [after the title],” Speraw said, before breaking into a broad smile. “Recruiting is going to be good.”

“This is huge for recruiting,” Edles said. “We will be able to say we made the NCAAs and every player’s dream is to play in the NCAAs. And for us to do it with the players we have, since we don’t recruit the top players, speaks well for our players, because they show improvement while they’re here.”

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].