Altobelli honored

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli put the finishing

touches on a dream 2005 season by being named the Orange Empire

Conference Coach of the Year for all sports by conference athletic

directors.

Altobelli wrapped up his 13th season at the OCC helm by capturing

his first Orange Empire Conference championship. The Pirates (29-18,

15-6 in conference) also won two regional playoff series and finished

fourth at the 2005 state tournament in Fresno.

Following the 2005 season, Altobelli shared the OEC Coach of the

Year award for baseball with Don Sneddon of Santa Ana, who also went

15-6 but lost a 2-1 tiebreaker to the Pirates for the top seed in the

playoffs.