Baseball: Time is now for the Pirates

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Even last year, when Orange Coast College’s baseball

team was surprising everyone by reaching the playoffs with a

freshman-heavy squad, there was already talk of next year.

Well, next year is here and the Pirates are ready for the Orange Empire

Conference challenge.

With a ton of veteran players and a batch of exciting, new players, Coach

John Altobelli is looking forward for the season to begin.

“Pitching is going to be the key for us,” Altobelli said. “If we don’t

get good pitching, we’re in trouble.”

All three starting pitchers from last year’s squad return.

Leading the pitching corps will be 1999 OCC Pitcher of the Year, Matt

Carey (6-2, 4.59 ERA). He and John Coleman (4-4, 5.27 ERA) were

All-Orange Empire Conference selections last year.

Adding to the Pirates’ depth include 1999 wins leader Ricky Bostick (7-3)

and relievers Jamie Brown (3-1, 2.70 ERA) and Drew Parkin (school-record

26 appearances, four saves).

New additions to the Pirate pitching staff include Matt Canada, Sam Greco

and John Surdock.

Last year, OCC relied on some serious home run power to generate a

school-record 404 runs, but with big bashers Brandon Thompson (Cal State

Northridge) and Ryan Clark (Long Beach State) gone, Altobelli has added

some new faces to the mix.

Eric Wiethorn, who helped Corona del Mar High to the CIF Southern Section

Division IV title a year ago and redshirt freshman Ryan France look to

supply some pop in the middle of the order.

“I don’t know if we’ll have as many home runs as last year,” Altobelli

said. “But we’ll have some guys who can hit the long ball in our order.

We just have to be patient and see what happens.”

Anchoring the heart of the order is returning right fielder Jason Reuss.

Coming off a season when he hit 15 home runs and had 53 RBI, Reuss is one

of five position players returning.

Returning are center fielder Brian Wahlbrink (.305, 49 runs scored), left

fielder Chris Laws (.322), second baseman Adam Anderson (.304, 47 runs,

10 stolen bases), Nick Orlandos (.283, 38 runs),

“We’ve got a lot of guys with a ton of experience, both in conference and

in the playoffs,” Altobelli said. “That has to work to our advantage.”

Altobelli was also pleased with some of his new faces on the team, which

include infielders Orlando Caro, Blair Havens and Josh McCanne.

“We’ve got some speed at the top of the order and some power in the

middle,” Altobelli said.

One thing that has hampered OCC’s start is injuries. Wahlbrink is

doubtful for this weekend’s Matt O’Brien Memorial Baseball Tournament

with back problems and Reuss is questionable with a sore arm.

“We’re fighting so early-season injuries, so we’re going to have to make

some adjustments,” Altobelli said.

Expectations are high all around the OEC, according to Altobelli. “I know

Riverside has a bunch of good pitching coming back and Santa Ana and

Saddleback have a bunch of returners,” Altobelli said. “Cypress has a

young group, but they have some solid athletes there. It’ll just be

another ho-hum year in the Orange Empire Conference.”

1 Matt Canada P So.

2 Blair Havens INF Fr.

3 Jamie Brown P So.

4 Adam Anderson 2B So.

5 Brian Murphy C Fr.

7 Joe Claytor INF Fr.

8 Orlando Caro 2B Fr.

9 Chris Laws OF So.

10 Nick Orlandos INF So.

12 John Coleman P So.

15 Willie Keller C Fr.

18 Jonathan Smith 1B Fr.

19 Ryan France INF So.

20 Robert Deven P Fr.

22 Mike Carey P So.

23 Sam Greco P Fr.

25 Billy Conrad OF Fr.

26 Eric Wiethorn C/1B Fr.

27 Brian Wahlbrink OF So.

28 Josh McCanne INF Fr.

29 Ricky Bostick P So.

31 John Surdock P Fr.

34 Craig Harris P So.

35 Alan Lambert P Fr.

44 Jason Reuss OF So.

Coach - John Altobelli