Area Baseball College Update

Caption: Rio Hondo College plays Chaffey College at home on Thursday, March 27, 2008. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger/Sports)

It looks like the area is well represented in the California Community College playoffs, which begin Tuesday.

By virtue of sweeping College of the Desert last Thursday by scores of 8-4 and 6-4, the Rio Hondo College baseball team clinched the Foothill Conference's second seed and final playoff berth.

The No. 17-ranked Roadrunners (25-17), who overcame a 1-10 start this season, will be at No. 16 Ventura (27-13), the No. 4 seed out of the Western State North Conference, Tuesday, at a time yet to be determined (I will post that as soon as I find out).

Should the Roadrunners win, they would then advance to play either top-ranked Santa Ana (32-11), champion of the Orange Empire Conference, or No. 2 Cuesta (30-13-1), champion of the Western State North Conference on Friday.

Locals on the team include:
Josh Dunigan (Santa Fe), Chris Galaviz (Montebello), Jon Garcia (Cal-Hi), Dario Gutierrez (Schurr), Ryan Juarez (Pioneer), Brad Laurito (Pioneer), Taylor Martin (California), Juan Martinez (Montebello), Mike Meza (Santa Fe), Marcus Ramirez (El Rancho), Rafael Reyes (Montebello) and Willie Sandez (La Mirada native). 

Kudos to coach Mike Salazar on another excellent season.

Also qualifying for the playoffs is two-time South Coast Conference Champion Cerritos College (29-14).

The No. 6-ranked Falcons led their conference since the beginning and open the playoffs at home on Friday against No. 11-Bakersfield (28-16), the No. 3 seed out of the Western State South Conference.

Locals on the team team include:
Steve Blanchette (Schurr), Trevor Blood (La Mirada), T.D. Estrada (La Serna), John Garcia (El Rancho), Brian Gaylord (La Mirada), Tony Peraza (La Mirada) and Brandon Pesante (La Mirada).

Finally, No. 13-ranked East Los Angeles College (30-14), the No. 3 seed out of the SCC, also earned a bid to the big dance. The Huskies open Friday at No. 4-ranked Irvine Valley (29-15), the No. 3 seed out of the Orange Empire Conference.

Locals on the team include:
Isaiah Garcia (Montebello), Dennis Rangel (Schurr) and Hector Solorzano (Schurr).

Each series is a best 2 out of 3 with a single game played Friday, followed by a double-header (if necessary) played Saturday.

Good luck to all the area teams.