Spring 2009 recap
REBOUNDS A PLENTY (Andrew Bennett)
Saddleback Baseball
27-17 OA, 15-9 OEC
The Gauchos are currently awaiting word for their position in the upcoming So Cal Regionals. The Gauchos were led by Third Baseman Dalton Sype who had six home runs and 40 runs batted in. First Baseman Trevor Whyte knocked in 33 runs while hitting four home runs this season. Sean Parvin led the team in hitting with his .398 batting average. Bobby Ross led the team in pitching with a solid, 2.74 era, with a record of 9-3 this season. He also had four complete games this season. Joe Richardson is 8-4 on the year, with a 3.39 era. The Gauchos has a stellar home record of 16-7. Brett Vertigan paced the offense with 47 runs, 11 stolen bases and a .331 batting average. He also has 13 doubles on the year. He has only made one error in center field. Check out www.lariatnews.com for more game information on the Gauchos 2009 playoff run.
Saddleback Men’s Basketball
29-8 OA, 10-2 OEC, No. 2 in State
The Saddleback Men’s Basketball Team, advanced to the State Finals for the second time in three years, falling in the Championship game to Riverside City College. The Gauchos were led by sophomores Kevin Menner and Franklin Session. Menner finished the season, averaging 19.3 points per game and seven rebounds per game. The Orange Empire Conference MVP, Session finished averaging 14.4 points per game and earning a double-double per game with 10 rebounds per game. Session and Menner earned all Tournament Honors at the State Championships. Terrell Mack and T.J. Lipold were valuable members on this years squad, both making game ending shots in the So Cal Regionals. The reigning OEC Coach of the year, Andy Ground, is the top candidate for the head coaching job for the upcoming season.
Saddleback Softball
27-12 OA, 12-9 OEC
The 2009 team finished the regular season with a 27-12 record overall and were 12-9 in the Orange Empire Conference. The Gauchos had two players named to the All-Conference first team, Lauren Molina and Sarah Bosshart. S. Bosshart finished the season with a .379 batting average with a home run and 21 runs batted in. But she had a stellar season behind the plate. Smiling after every pitch back at her pitcher. Molina finished the season with a .356 batting average and three home runs. Two other Gauchos made the All-Conference second team, Kelly Bosshart finished the season with a .285 batting average with three home runs and 15 runs batted in from the lead off spot. Starr White also made the second team, playing a “gold glove” like third base. She had a .331 batting average with a home run and 21 runs batted in. The Gauchos will play at Cerritos in the second round of the So Cal Playoffs, after sweeping College of the Canyons last weekend.
Irvine Valley Baseball
21-21 OA, 10-14 OEC
The Lasers finished its season with a 21-21 overall record but only 10-14 in Orange Empire Conference play. They missed this season’s playoffs after making the playoffs last year. Robbie Robinson led the Lasers in batting average, .338, and had a slugging percentage of .441 with 21 runs batted in. Sean Williams led the team in hits with 51 during the season and also led the team in slugging with .503. He also was the top run producer with 32 runs batted in. He had three homeruns on the season. Andrew Jimenez had a 2.87 earned run average while keeping the opposing hitters to just a .247 batting average. Jimenz was 4-1 on the season and also had a save striking out 17. Matt Reyes had a 3.45 era, and was 5-5 on the year. He was the work horse of the staff leading in innings pitching with 88.2 and striking out 59 batters this season. Gary Gerhardt led the team with four saves and striking out 33 batters in 59.2 innings pitched. Jered Haller struck out 44 this season.
Irvine Valley Men’s Basketball
14-17 OA, 4-8 OEC
A year after a season in which the Lasers were amongst the elite in California, they fell on some hard times with only one returning player from last years squad, Jeff Ledbetter. The Lasers had a 4-8 record in conference, including a big win against rival Saddleback at home, the second round of the Presidents’ Cup. They finished with a 14-17 record overall. Ledbetter averaged 13.7 points per game. Ledbetter made the All-Conference First team and is committed to play at the University of Idaho. Brandon Hucks was second on the team in scoring with 9.9 points per game, Kwame Alexander also had 9.5 per game. Alexander also led the team in rebounding with eight per game. Hucks and Alexander also received Honorable Mention to the All Conference team.
Irvine Valley Women’s Basketball
16-14 OA, 4-8 OEC
The Irvine Valley Lasers Women’s Basketball team had an up and down season. The Lasers won 10 games out of 12 before going on a losing streak to start conference play, an inevitably missed the playoffs. Courtney Kollasch led the Lasers averaging 12.4 points per game. Ashley Dunn averaged 10.4 points per game, and also led her teams in rebounds per game with 6.9. Erika Garcia averaged 10.9 points per game this season, her freshman season and won the starting point guard position and averaged 2.4 assists a game. Ivy Melo was a key member of the team, with two assists per game shooting 28 percent from beyond the three point line. Sydney Hughes led the team in shooting percentage, shooting 38 percent from the floor and also averaged 5.9 rebounds per game. The Lasers averaged as a team 54.7 points a game. While as a group shooting 33 percent from the field.
Irvine Valley Badminton
10-0 OA; Advance to State Finals
The IVC Badminton team, will be playing in the State Finals this weekend. The finals will be played in the Hart Gymnasium at Irvine Valley College. The Lasers had a remarkable 10-0 record this season. This marks the first time since 2005 the Lasers have played in the California Community College Athletic association Badminton Championships. They beat Skyline, which ended a three-peat of titles from 2002-05. Olympian Eva Lee led the Lasers in singles beating two Pasadena City College opponents. Vimla Phonogasavithas won in straight sets as well. She is Irvine Valley College’s second-best player. Her sister, Anoma Phongasavithas, and Ludie Duco won their matches in fine fashion. Lee competed for the United States in the Beijing last summer. She also won the singles and doubles at the 2009 Collegiate National Badminton Championships.
Centerfielder Brett Vertigan doubles to score Darren Coombs. (Shannon Patrick)
(Cerise Ostrem)
Lauren Molina struck out eight batters in the game against Cerritos. (Shannon Patrick)
(Shannon Patrick)