Sports Roundup
Saddleback College
Softball:
Season opens with two-game set at Cerritos
With seven returning sophomores, Saddleback showed its power and synergy, defeating Cerritos College, 8-1. The season opener against Antelope Valley College ended in defeat, but the team put up a fight, losing, 9-8.
The returning women started the battle when Mandy Gutierrez hit to [see play-by-play], bringing in the first two runs, including 2011 Orange Empire Conference MVP Christina Bolin. But it was freshman Anna Blue who shined when she knocked in a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
The defense started to deteriorate in the second game against Antelope Valley and the team felt the sting of several errors after building an 8-4 lead. The Marauders held true to their name and they took advantage of the errors, plundering the Gauchos and bringing the score closer to a tie, eventually scoring two runs at the the end of the game to win.
Coach Nick Trani said the team will work on correcting mistakes in the field, as the team already has excellent hitters. He wants to stay on top and be competitive with what he called some of the best teams in the state.
Men’s Golf
2012 season begins with OEC Tee-off Classic
Golf teams from throughout the Orange Empire Conference gathered at Los Serranos County Club in Chino Hills last weekend for the first tournament.
The majority of players on this year’s Gaucho team are freshman. Many have an assortment of experience prior to playing for Saddleback.
Sam Apresa graduated from the home school program at the San Fernando Valley-based Sunland Christian High School in 1995, then attended Los Angeles Valley College. He’s had several years to polish his skills and joins the Gauchos as a freshman.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ryan Beckies was the MVP on the golf team at Mission Viejo and was named one of the players to watch by OCVarsity.com in 2010.
Several players lettered in other sports in high school.
Brian Boermeester not only plays golf, but football as well. That’s not surprising since his father, Peter, was a kicker for UCLA and then with the Cleveland Browns.
Ryan Staley was the golf team captain at Capistrano Valley where he also lettered twice in football.
At 6-foot-3, Riley Murphy played for two championship volleyball teams, lettering at Dana Hills his senior year.
Lone returning sophomore, Tommy Hug, played in five matches for Saddleback, finishing with a 79.6 average. While at El Toro, Hug was an all-league players and the Charger’s MVP.
Other team members include Jordan Guilford (San Clemente), Brett Walker (Calvary Murrieta) and Joe Yoshihiro (Pacific Coast).
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Irvine Valley College
Women’s Basketball
IVC relentless in overtime duel with Fullerton Hornets
The Lasers’ women’s basketball team geared up for its annual Homecoming game tonight, playing Santa Ana. IVC currently stands 4-2 in the Orange Empire Conference standings and 13-11 overall.
Last week, IVC dueled with Fullerton College, but lost, 67-63, in overtime.
At halftime, IVC was behind, 34-22, but came out of the locker room pumped up to take the lead. Forwards Jackie Fa’asamala, Megan Blackwell and Shomari McCorkle were full speed ahead during the last seven minutes of play. Fa’samala’s lay-up brought IVC ahead, 44-43. Then Blackwell made a 3-pointer and free throw, 48-45. A lay-up by McCorkle made it 53-50.
Overtime was no friend to the Lasers as the team missed eight shots from the field. With just over a minute left, and the score once again tied at 63-63, the Hornets’ Chanel Benson and Carlisha Phillips both scored, taking the lead and claiming victory after a ferocious battle, 67-63.