Orange Coast Pirates top Comets in 10 innings to give "Alto" win No. 500

COSTA MESA -- The first celebratory mosh pit of players went to Manny Argomaniz for bringing home  the game-winning run in the 10th inning for the Orange Coast College baseball team in Friday's 3-2 victory over Palomar.

The players then made their way over to head coach John Altobelli, who became just the 24th head coach in California Community College baseball history to pick up career win No. 500.

"I was hoping we were going to be able to pull it off today at home in front of our fans and several people who have helped me succeed throughout my Coast career," Altobelli said after the game. "To win it on a game-winner in the 10th makes it even more memorable for me and my family and it's a day I won't forget."

With the game tied at 2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, Zach Nehrir (3-for-4) led off with a single to left and advanced to second on a bunt-single by Ricky Navarro (2-for-4. After back-to-back Pirates were retired, Argomaniz (2-for-5, one run, one RBI) lined a single to center to score Nehrir and kick off the celebration.

Cody Bruder also had two hits and drove in a run for Coast.

OCC starting pitcher Dallas Draviczki allowed just two runs on three hits over 6 2/3 innings, walking five and striking out seven along the way. Joe Reta (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win.

It's been a long run of success for Altobelli -- a five-time Orange Empire Conference Coach of the Year and the 2012 California Community College Male Sport Coach of the Year during his 21-year career. With the wins piling up day after day, "Alto" still remembers when things got started back in 1993.

"I remember my first win -- it was in the College of the Desert Tournament and it was a night game," Altobelli said of win No. 1 -- a 10-4 victory over San Bernardino Valley on Feb. 6, 1993. "We got finished very late and I took my assistant coaches out to Carrow's after the win because there was nothing else near us that was still open."

Eleven playoff-qualifying seasons, four State Final Four appearances, one magical state championship run (2009) and 499 wins later, Altobelli has a lot to be proud of.

"When I applied for this job I had a lot of people telling not to apply because I was a former Golden West player," the Rustler from 1982-83 said. "While I appreciate GWC and (longtime baseball coach) Fred Hoover for a chance to play and continue my playing career ... I'm a Pirate!

"This school is amazing with the people that work here and understand the importance of athletics. There have been a number of athletes that have left OCC and received their degrees and have had their start here with me and ALL my great assistant coaches over the years. A special thanks to my current assistants who have been with me for a long time as well as my family who have stuck by me throughout all of this. It's been a great run and I'm looking forward to more fun out here."