SBCC is entering uncharted waters in the Southern California Super Regional baseball tournament at Santa Ana College but the Vaqueros aren’t feeling the heat.
“The team is really positive right now,” said first-year coach Ryan Thompson. “They’re relaxed and I don’t think they’re feeling any pressure. They’ve never been at this stage before but they’re not letting the environment get to them.”
On Friday at 3 p.m., the seventh-seeded Vaqueros (24-15) will take on No. 4 Orange Coast, the Orange Empire League runner-up with a 30-8 record. Third-seeded Santa Ana (27-12) plays host to No. 8 Cerritos (23-14) in Friday’s opener at 11 a.m.
On Saturday, the Vaqueros will play Santa Ana or Cerritos at 10 or 11 a.m.
For in-game Twitter updates and an internet radio link, go to Santa Ana College’s web site: www.sac.edu/baseball
It’s a four-team, double-elimination tourney and pitching will be a key factor with teams possibly playing four or five games in three days.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Thompson. “The kids have earned it, in terms of where they started and where they are now.“
The Vaqueros began the year 1-5, then caught fire halfway through the WSC North campaign. They won 11 of their last 12 conference games to capture their first title since 2007 with a 15-5 record.
Santa Barbara (24-15) came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Riverside, the No. 3 team from the Orange Empire League, in last weekend’s Regional series. SBCC prevailed at Pershing Park after two decisive wins on Saturday.
DJ Gunderson got a three-inning save in a 9-3 triumph and then pitched eight innings of one-run ball in the 9-1 series-clinching win. Leadoff hitter Robert Vickers was 3-5 with two doubles and a two-run homer in Game 3.
The Vaqueros are 12-0 when they hit a home run and 23-5 when holding the opponent to five runs or less.
SBCC has won 13 of its last 16 games and features one of the best pitching staffs in the state, led by sophomore left-handers Chris Joyce (7-0, 1.78 ERA) and Kylin Turnbull (5-3, 2.48 ERA). Joyce, the WSC North Pitcher of the Year, was second in the state with 97 strikeouts.
The Vaqueros were No. 6 in the state in ERA (2.93) in the regular season and led the state in strikeouts with 312. Orange Coast averages 8.2 runs per game and ranks third in the state in batting average (.330) and slugging percentage (.431).
“They’re a good ball club, probably the best one out there pound-for-pound,” said Thompson. “They have guys who can hit, guys who can run and some very good pitchers. Their pitchers don’t mess around, they come right after you.”
Orange Coast, the 2009 state champion, is 14-4 in its last 18 games. The Pirates swept Hancock, the WSC North’s No. 3 team, in the Regional, 9-6 and 3-0.
Right fielder Matt Moynihan and first baseman Jordan Beck were the co-Players of the Year in the Orange Empire League. Moynihan led the league in batting (.480) and slugging percentage (.667) while Beck hit .416 and was No. 1 in hits (37) and RBIs (28).
Jed Vandernaald (7-0, 2.82 ERA) is the Pirates’ top pitcher.
