Cypress and Saddleback in Tie for First Place after One Round of Action
After one round of OEC competition, Cypress College and Saddleback College sit atop the conference standings with matching 6-1 records.
With the first seven games of Orange Empire Conference competition in the books, Cypress College and Saddleback College are tied for first place with matching 6-1 records. Santa Ana College is close behind in third place with a 5-2 record.
The majority of the first round wrapped up on March 6, but a makeup game between Saddleback and Santa Ana on March 9 helped define the early standings. The Gauchos took advantage of a seventh inning error by SAC to claim a 2-1 victory and move into first place with Cypress.
The Chargers were waiting to see who would join them in the top spot, having already defeated both Saddleback and Santa Ana. Cypress' 9-0 win over Riverside City College last Friday cemented their place atop the standings. The lone OEC loss on the Chargers record was given to them on the first day of conference action by Fullerton College by a score of 3-2.
Fullerton follows in line behind Santa Ana with a 4-3 conference record, just ahead of last year's champions, Santiago Canyon College as the Hawks hold a 3-4 record.
Riverside City is next in the standings with a 2-5 record while Golden West College and Orange Coast College round out the standings with each team holding a 1-6 record.
The second round of competition gets underway today, March 11, with all eight teams competing. Cypress gets its rematch with Fullerton while Saddleback travels to Golden West. Santa Ana will host Orange Coast and Riverside City travels to Santiago Canyon.
Cypress has the toughest start to the second round as the Chargers will travel to Santa Ana on Friday, where they defeated the Dons 4-1 in the first round. Saddleback follows its matchup with Golden West by hosting Riverside City on Friday.