OEC PREVIEW – BATS OVER ARMS IN 2022

It's been a season of offense for the teams of the Orange Empire Conference as the calendar turns towards conference play.

Heading into this week's conference openers, teams from the OEC have a combined .315 team batting average with each team scoring an average of 8.7 runs per game.

On the other hand, the conference arms have struggled as a whole, with a combined ERA of 4.76.

Translation: Bring a sandwich to the ballpark because it might take awhile to declare a winner each game.

In order of their nonconference records, here is a team-by-team breakdown heading into OEC play.

SANTA ANA (15-1-1, State Rank: 1) – Unbeaten in 15 of their first 17 games, the Dons are coming into conference action riding high with wins in three of their last four games against teams who are in the state baseball rankings.

Freshman outfielder Christian Thompson has been setting the pace for the Dons' offense with a .536 batting average and 30 hits, both tops among all conference hitters. Freshman infielder Austin Haller is second to Thompson with 22 hits and leads the dons with 22 runs scored to go along with his .407 average.

In addition to strong hitting, Santa Ana also leads the conference with a team ERA of 3.29. Starter Chase Hennessey has been dominant in 2022 with a 2-0 record and a 1.55 ERA, allowing just five earned runs  with 11 walks and 35 strikeouts over 29 innings. Eddy Pelc (2-0, one save, 2.61 ERA) and Brady Ashworth (3-1, 2.39 ERA) have also been sturdy starters for the Dons, while starter/reliever Cedrick Perez is 3-0 with two saves and a 3.42 ERA, striking out 22 over 26 1/3 innings.

SADDLEBACK (13-4, State Rank: 2) – The Bobcats had another strong start to the 2022 campaign with wins in nine of their first 10 games before simmering down with a more modest 4-3 stretch heading into this week's action.

Sophomore Luc Stuka is Saddleback's leading hit-getter with 22 overall with 14 runs, two home runs and 13 RBI to go along with his .361 average. Tyler DeClusin leads the Bobcats with a .375 average with 21 hits, while Jonathan Behn has a .350 mark with a team-best 23 runs scored and a team-best .535 on-base percentage.

Keep an eye on freshman Dylan Singh, who is 3-0 and a 0.61 ERA, allowing just one run over 14 2/3 innings. Fellow freshman Connor Wilford is 4-1 in five starts with a 2.60 ERA, allowing just two walks and 22 strikeouts over 27 2/3 IP. Closer Arthur Liu has been lights-out with a 1-0 record and two saves with a 0.84 ERA, striking out 15 over 10 2/3 innings.

GOLDEN WEST (12-5, State Rank: 15) – The Rustlers have enjoyed the majority of their nonconference schedule and head into conference play winners of six of seven.

The GWC offense has been electric in 2022, leading all OEC teams with a .344 team batting average with a conference-best 212 hits and 50 stolen bases throughout their first 17 games.

Sophomore Steven Casas has done it all for the Rustlers thus far with a team-best 27 hits and 22 RBI to go along with his .386 batting average. His 11 stolen bases are second to teammate Miles Jenkins' 12 and both have been caught stealing only one time each. Freshman Jonah Sebring is close behind Casas with 26 hits (.388 average) and he leads the team with 20 runs scored, while Zech Samayoa (.368) is close behing with 21 hits and leads the team with 12 extra-base hits and 22 RBI.

Sophomore lefty Brett Wozniak headlines a 1-2 starter punch with teammate Jason Blood.  Wozniak is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings, while Blood is 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA and 34 Ks over 23 2/3 innings. Top reliever for the Rustlers is freshman Luke Higgins, who is 0-1 with three saves and a 0.64 ERA, allowing just one earned run with 15 strikeouts over 14 innings.

RIVERSIDE (11-5, State Rank: 3) – After starting 8-1, the Tigers stumbled sightly with three straight losses before righting the ship with wins in three of their last four, including a pair against L.A. Mission.

Freshman outfielder Matthew Bardowell has been the leader of the RCC offense with a .383 average with a team-best 23 hits, seven doubles and 19 RBI. Another 20-hit producer for the Tigers includes freshman Julian Alvarez, who enters conference play with a .328 average and a team-best 18 runs to go along with 16 RBI.

Second only to Santa Ana's arms, the Tigers have a team ERA of 3.34 with starter Giancarlo Flores leading the way with a 4-1 record and a 1.14 ERA, allowing just three earned runs over 23 2/3 innings to go along with 31 strikeouts. Four RCC relievers – Jordan Townley, David Butler, Ryan Hernandez and Chaz McWilliams – all have ERAs under 2.50 and have struck out a combined 48 strikeouts in 52 innings of work.

IRVINE VALLEY (11-6, State Rank: 14) – After a chilly 1-3 start to the season, coach Kent Madole's Lasers got red-hit, winning nine straight before cooling off last week with a 1-3 stretch to end nonconference play.

Freshman outfielder Jack Haggerty has been IVC's toughest out in the lineup, leading the team with 29 hits (second in the OEC) to go along with seven extra-base hits, 15 RBI and a .426 batting average. Since entering the lineup full time on Feb. 15, catcher Connor Tallakson has been a steady force in the lineup with a .469 average and has picked up a pair of hits in seven straight games to go along with five runs and four RBI over that span.

Starting pitchers Sammy Murphy (3-2, one complete game, 2.80 ERA 23 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings) and Jeremy Wiegman (2-1, 3.42 ERA, 28 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings) have been strong and steady for the Lasers, while reliever Austin Chapman is 3-0 with a save and a microscopic 0.69 ERA with 11 Ks in 13 IP.

FULLERTON (12-7, State Rank: 22) – Yet ANOTHER conference team reaches the state ranking with the Hornets in the mix. After losing three straight, including a 5-0 shutout to Southwestern, the Hornet bats came back to life in a BIG way with a 25-3 rout over Bakersfield.

Freshman outfielder Isaiah Marquez has been the main cog in the Fullerton wheel with a team-best 29 hits and 23 runs scored to go with a .377 average and 20 RBI. Fellow outfielder Garet Crenshaw is tied for the STATE lead with six home runs and is tied with Marquez for the team lead in runs scored with 23. Fullerton's 15 home runs are tied for eighth in the state and only Cypress' 17 tops the Hornets among OEC teams.

FC's top starter, Adam Armstrong, is 4-1 with a 3.31 ERA, while relievers Angelo Aguilera (1-2, three saves, 3.24 ERA) and Ryan Chavez (4-0, two saves, 4.22 ERA, 22 Ks in 21 1/3 IP) have been a strong duo in the back end of the Hornet bullpen.

ORANGE COAST (10-6, State Rank: 9) – While the state rank might appear high, the level of talent that the Pirates have played thus far can not be paralleled. With a pair of wins over former NorCal No. 1 Sacramento City, a hard-fought series against El Camino and a series sweep over playoff contender Cuesta, the Pirates have one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the state.

In spite of their schedule, the Pirate bats have been on fire for the majority of the season, hitting a combined .332 as a club. Standout outfielder Cary Arbolida leads the team with 28 hits, three home runs and 25 RBI with a .431 batting average, while outfielder/pitcher Cameron Mahaffy has collected 20 hits and has driven in 15 to go along with a .465 average. Tyler Weaver is close behind with a .452 mark, 19 hits and 14 runs scored.

While the offense has been strong, the OCC pitching has struggled in 2022 with a 7.47 team ERA. Closer Matt Maloney has been the most impressive with three saves and a 2.84 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings, while reliever Chase Rousselo is tied for the conference lead with four wins.

CYPRESS (8-8, State Rank: N/A) – While the Chargers might be the only team in the OEC not listed in the state polls, very few people would be surprised if this traditional OEC powerhouse ends up at or near the top of the conference standings by season's end.

Winners of four of six heading into OEC play, there plenty of bats to concern the opposing pitchers. Luke Honikel is tops on the team with 21 hits at a .382 average, while Eddie Hacopian is second with 19 hits, while his .442 average leads the club. Eight different Hornets have hit the ball out of the park, including Noah Karliner and Mario Tostado, who each have four to lead the way.

Like the Pirates, it's been a rough start to the 2022 season for the Hornet pitchers, but there are a few strong arms to keep an eye on, including starter Trey Seeley (2-1, 4.15 ERA) and reliever Ryan Brown (2-0, one save, 2.51 ERA). The Charger staff is averaging 9.60 strikeouts per nine innings, including a team-best 26 Ks from starter Nick Bautista.