OEC PREVIEW – ANOTHER LOADED GROUP FOR 2023

After another dominating performance during the nonconference portion of the schedule, the Orange Empire Conference – the LONE conference in the state where every team has more wins than losses – get to beat on each other for the next several weeks beginning Tuesday to see who really IS the top program in the best conference.

And the baseball "experts" know the strength of this conference, placing ALL eight teams in the most recent Southern California rankings, including the top-four spots.

Seven of the eight OEC teams have 10-or-more wins against nonconference competition and if recent history is any predictor over the future, expect another dog fight of a conference where anyone can beat anyone on any given day.

In order of nonconference records, here is a team-by-team preview of each OEC program as the clubs head into opening week of conference play.

SADDLEBACK (12-3, SoCal Rank: 1) – It's another solid year for the defending OEC champs as the Bobcats again look to be one of the teams to beat in the OEC and all of Southern California in 2023. The Bobcats have been raking to start the season, hitting a conference-best .335 as a group with eight players hitting over .300 in their everyday lineup.

Sophomore transfer Isaiah Morales leads Saddleback with 25 hits and 17 RBI to go along with a solid .379 average. Freshman Ben Castelli anchors the middle of the order, hitting .422 with a team-best five HR to go along with 19 hits and 15 RBI. Catcher Jack Collins has made the most of his opportunities, hitting .514 with 19 hits and 10 runs scored in just 37 at-bats.

A pair of sophomore starters – Arthur Liu and Sylan Singh – were projected to be the leaders of the Saddleback staff and the two have not disappointed thus far. Liu is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 28 innings, while Singh is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA with 20 Ks over 21 1/3 IP. The entire staff is averaging a strikeout per inning pitch, so the Bobcats' arsenal of arms are long and plentiful.

CYPRESS (12-3, SoCal Rank: 2) – Winners of seven straight heading into OEC play, the Chargers come in as the hottest team amongst their conference brothers. After starting off 0-2, coach Anthony Hutting has seen his Chargers rip off wins in 12 of their next 13 contests, using both strong pitching AND timely hitting when required.

Freshman catcher Jack Burke has been the most consistent hitter in the Chargers' lineup, hitting .488 with 20 hits and 17 runs over his first 13 games played, while sophomores Nick Mascaro (.327, 4 HR, 17 RBI) and Dean Toigo (.289, 4 HR, 14 RBI) have provided some power in the middle of the order. Four players have three-or-more HR, including freshman Albert De La Rosa (.346, 3 HR, 14 runs) and sophomore Aaron Perez (.275, 3 HR, nine RBI).

On the mound, the Chargers are just one of two OEC teams to sport a team ERA under four and they've been led by sophomore righty Evan Adolphus, who is 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA, allowing just five earned runs over 22 innings with 21 strikeouts. Right up there with Adolphus is fellow starters Trey Seeley, who is 2-0 with a 1.31 ERA, and 23 strikeouts over 20 2/3 and Connor Wylde, who is 2-0 with a 4.22 ERA with 21 strikeouts. The trio have 65 Ks in just 64 innings pitched. In the bullpen is anchored by freshman Andrew Dusablon, who is 1-0 with two saves and a 0.00 ERA with 14 stirkeouts over 9 1/3 innings (seven appearances).

RIVERSIDE (11-4, SoCal Rank: 3) – The defending state champion Tigers are back on the winning track with six straight victories after starting the 2023 campaign just 5-4. Over that span, the Tigers have outscored the opposition 46-13 and with a plethora of returners from last year's championship squad, the sky is the limit for coach Rudy Arguelles' club.

Sophomore standout Matthew Bardowell has been battling the injury bug, but when he's in the lineup, he's been on fire, batting a conference-best .528 with 19 hits, 16 runs, 11 extra-base hits and 15 RBI … in just 11 games. Fellow sophomore Casey Murray Jr. leads the RCC lineup with 24 hits and 19 runs scored to go along with a solid .381 batting average.

Riverside brings three solid sophomore starting arms to each series, including Anthony Silvas (2-0, 1.38 ERA, 22 strikeouts in 13 IP), Hayden Coon (2-2, 2.25 ERA, 18 Ks in 24 IP) and David Butler (2-1, 5.00, 33 Ks in 27 IP). RCC's top reliever out of the bullpen thus far has been sophomore Albert Roblez, who is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 12 1/3 innings pitched.

ORANGE COAST (13-4, SoCal Rank: 4) – After a rough 2022 campaign for the Pirates, coach Nate Johnson has Coast back on the winning track with victories in 13 of their first 17 contests. The offense was a question mark coming into the season, but it's an exclamation point now as the Pirates are in the top-three in runs scored (150), hits (204), doubles (42), triples (8), home runs (17) and RBI (125).

The outfield trio of Sebastian Moore, Zach Dickason and Jaden Lyburtus have spearheaded this Coast offense from Day 1. Moore has a conference-best 29 hits to go along with a healthy .460 average, 19 runs scored and 23 RBI. Dickason is second on the team with 25 hits (.397 average) with a team-best six doubles and 15 RBI. Lyburtus has enjoyed those two on the basepaths as he's batted .431 behind them with a STATE-best eight HR and 22 RBI. Right there in the mix is OF/DH Evan Scalley, who is batting .422 with 22 hits and three HR.

OCC's pitching has shown flashes of brilliance, but the Pirates will have to continue to improve on finding the strike zone as the season progresses. Starter Jack Ross has been solid for Coast, going 2-0 with a 4.30 ERA and 22 Ks in 29 1/3 innings of work, while out of the pen, Lyndon Glidewell has allowed just one earned run over 11 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts and a 0.77 ERA. Fellow reliever Dimond Loosli is 2-0 with a save and a 2.89 ERA with 9 Ks in 9 1/3 innings.

GOLDEN WEST (12-4, SoCal Rank: 8) – After a 6-4 start, the Rustlers have found a groove, winning six straight heading into OEC play, including three wins from Bakersfield and single wins from Sequoias, Citrus and West L.A. Over that span, GWC has outscored its opponents 69-19, so both sides of the game are rounding out into top form.

Sophomore Dylan Kordic has been the leader of the GWC lineup, batting .403 with a team-best, 25 hits, 22 runs, four HR and 19 RBI. Three other Rustlers – freshmen Rocco Caballero (.367, 13 runs), Ayden Garcia (.344, 12 runs, six doubles) and Jack Salmon (.386, 11 runs, 19 RBI) join Kordic in the 20-hit club with 22 knocks apiece.

Starter Johnnie Valdez Jr. has been lights OUT for the Rustlers in 2023, going 4-0 with a microscopic 0.58 ERA over 31 innings of work, allowing just two earned runs over that span with 30 strikeouts. If GWC has the lead late, the Rustlers will turn to sophomore Andrew Stanley, who is 1-0 with five saves and a 0.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts and just one earned run allowed over 18 innings, spanning nine appearances. Fellow reliever Alex Ramos is averaging 15.8 strikeouts per nine innings with a 1.86 ERA and 17 Ks over 9 2/3 innings.

FULLERTON (12-7, SoCal Rank: 13) – Never shy to play the big teams in the state, the Hornets have led the OEC in miles travelled this nonconference stretch, hitting the road for a three-game set against NorCal power Sacramento City (Hornets one two of three) as well as a roadie at Bakersfield (won by the Hornets, 14-2), a roadie at Southwestern (won, 13-3). Going 8-3 away from Hornet Field … you're gonna travel that far … might as well win, right?

Freshman outfielder Britton Beeson has been the table-setter for the Hornets' offense with a team-best 27 hits, nine doubles and 29 RBI to go along with a .355 average. Fellow freshman Diego Franco is close behind with 26 hits, 17 runs and 15 RBI, while sophomore Isaiah Marquez has 19 hits, three triples and 18 RBI.

Sophomore starter Freddy Castaneda (4-1, 2.88 ERA, 26 Ks, 34 1/3 IP), freshman Matt Romero (3-0, 2.96 ERA, 14 Ks in 27 1/3 IP) and Masen McDonnell (2-1, 4.64 ERA) have been solid innings-eaters for the Hornets, while sophomore closer Nathan McManus is a scary last guy to face, going 1-0 with three saves and a 1.72 ERA, striking out 16 over 15 2/3 innings.

SANTA ANA (10-6, SoCal Rank: 18) – After a tough 1-3 start to the season, coach Tom Nilles' Dons have turned things around, winning 8-of-11, including back-to-back victories over Glendale (13-10) and L.A. Mission (13-6).

This year's Dons have a solid blend of depth and power up and down the lineup, as their .330 team average would indicate. Only sophomore Austin Haller (.333 average, 17 runs, 13 RBI) has 20-or-more hits, but SAC has seven other players in the everyday lineup with more hits than games played, including 19 hits from Eddie Pelc (.380, 16 runs, 13 RBI), 17 hits from Ryann Stock (.288, 12 runs, six doubles), 17 hits from Mario Tostado (.288, 17 runs, seven doubles) and 17 hits from Marc Schavone (.327, 16 runs, 13 RBI).

Sporting a very respectable 4.14 team ERA, the Dons have plenty of arms to throw at you, including starters Brady Ashworth (1-2, 3.96 ERA, 25Ks in 25 IP), C.J. Brown (3-0, 3.68 ERA, 16Ks in 22 IP) and Hauze Gragoso (2-0, 2.57 ERA, 20 Ks, 21 IP). Top relievers for SAC include Joey Iglesias (0-1, 3.94 ERA, 13 Ks in 16 IP) and Jaxton Andeel (1-0, 3.86 ERA, 10 Ks in 11 2/3 IP).

IRVINE VALLEY (9-7, SoCal Rank: 20) – While the Lasers might have the fewest wins heading into OEC play, don't let that fool you for a second. Looking at this year's results, coach Kent Madole's Lasers have four one-run losses, so with the right bounce or two, this is a team with an 11-5 or 12-4 record.

Freshmen Shane Stafford and Kevin James are the muscles for this IVC lineup, with James batting .391 with 25 hits, 18 runs, six HR and 21 RBI, followed by Stafford's .320 average, 24 hits, 19 runs, four HR and 16 RBI.

The arms have been good up top for the Lasers, who sport a 4.33 team ERA heading into OEC play. Sammy Murphy is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA, allowing just 11 earned runs over 37 innings with 38 strikeouts, while Austin Chapman is 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 34 innings pitched. Sophomore Nate Skorheim has two saves and a 1-0 record out of the bullpen with a 3.38 ERA for IVC, while Seth Bougher could be an "X-Factor" for the Lasers after throwing a complete game in one of his outings earlier this year.

Release by Tony Altobelli, Orange Coast SID