OCC Sports Blog

Lady Pirates hands Mt. San Jacinto its first loss

2009-12-11T23:18:00.000-08:00

Orange Coast College's women's basketball team, fresh off a buzzer-beating, tournament winning shot at the 26th-Annual Conoco-Phillips Tournament, played at Cuesta College, adds one more heartbreaking loss to another team's standings.

According to OCC's Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli, the lady Pirates (8-3) "led most of the first half and carried a 41-31 lead one minute into the second half before the (Mt. San Jacinto) Eagles (7-1) found their spark and ripped off 12 straight points, forcing the Pirates into a pair of timeouts.

"Both teams traded baskets and the lead for the next few minutes before the Pirates responded with a game-changing 13-0 run, highlighted by eight points from Michelle Lewis (pictured) and a pair of buckets from (Samantha) Hansen, giving Coast a 64-52 lead with 6:40 left."

Coast's Amanda Deal led the lady Pirates once again with 11 and 10 apiece from Danielle Keneipp and Hansen.

Click here to read full game summary by Altobelli.

OCC returns to action on Friday in the opening round of the Coast Christmas Classic against El Camino, beginning at 7 p.m.

[Photo courtesy of Justin Yamasaki]

Secret to volleyball's success

2009-12-11T22:58:00.001-08:00

Orange Coast College women’s volleyball team understands the saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” a bit too well from doing “boards” at their practices.

“It’s where you push this wooden block with carpet around it, push it with your hands and run across the floor,” said sophomore libero Nikki Osuna on Nov. 26 after beating Moorpark College in five sets. “We do those every day and I feel like we hate them so much, but they’ve made us so much better. Our stamina is insane that we can go for games like this and play the way we do.”

Head coach Chuck Cutenese said that ever since he became a coach, he’s incorporated using boards into his programs.

“It’s a lower body workout and you feel it in the back of your legs,” he said. “When I played at Chapman University, I hated them. They were the worst. But our coach kept saying it’s going to make you better.”

Though many of the Coast players agree that doing boards is painful, all of them recognize the benefits of pushing a two-by-four wooden block with carpet on it.

“Yeah they are tiring and yeah they made you want to throw up, but in the long run, we were probably in better shape than all the other teams,” sophomore middle blocker Briana Fields (pictured) said, “because of our hard work and boards we did everyday.”

But boards were also a used as a form of punishment.

“I set the record last year for 29 boards in a row because I was late for practice,” sophomore outside hitter Rachel Freeno said. “I’m like the queen of boards, but everyone hates them.”

Besides the increased strength and stamina, Freeno said that boards have contributed a big part to why the lady Pirates are such a cohesive group.

“Personally, I think it’s bringing us closer,” she said, “because everybody dreads doing boards so it’s pushing us as a team.”

Click here to read "Lady Pirates on top again" article on the team winning its third state title in the last five years.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Lady Pirates are No. 1

2009-12-06T17:01:00.000-08:00

The lady Pirates volleyball team got off to a bad start by losing its first game at the California Community College Athletic Association state championship.

But Orange Coast College won the next 12 out of 13 sets to make it to the finals today (Dec. 6) against Orange Empire Conference rivals Cypress College.

Despite losing to the Chargers in their last meeting, the lady Pirates won the first set of games, 3-1, and then beat Cypress again in the sudden death, first-to-25 point set, to claim the state championship.

Tournament MVP was freshman setter Kimya Jafroudi.

More information will follow soon.

[Photo courtesy of Nikki Osuna]

Back to the Final Four

2009-12-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

Karlee Skalla (pictured) tallied 13 kills and four blocks for the Orange Coast College women’s volleyball team in a 25-21, 25-12, 25-14 win against Sierra College Saturday (Dec. 5) in the California Community College Athletic Association state championships at San Joaquin Delta College.

The No. 1 seeded lady Pirates (23-3) lost to the No. 4 seed Sierra in the opening round of the tournament and since then has played in the loser's bracket.

“We underestimated our first opponent Sierra and it cost us," head coach Chuck Cutenese said in a press release on coasports.org. "We have six players who were there at the state tournament last year and we haven’t learned. Other teams are not going to play dead for us. We let up in the third game vs. Delta and lost a game we shouldn’t have there. It’s disappointing."

Prior to the rematch against Sierra, Coast began Saturday with a 25-23, 25-14, 25-21 win over Sacramento City College, the No. 1 ranked team in the state.

Poe Gantt led OCC with 10 kills, while Rachel Freeno had nine kills. Nikki Osuna led the Pirates with 22 digs.

Against Sierra, Freeno led Coast with 17 digs, Gantt had 12 kills and Briana Fields added nine kills with a .533 hitting percentage.

Skalla recorded a .480 hitting percentage in that contest.

OCC will play against Irvine Valley College at 10 a.m. in the semifinal today. The winner will play against Cypress College, who is undefeated at the state tournament, in the final.

In the lady Pirates' last match against IVC on Nov. 11, Coast won in five sets 19‐25, 25‐17, 25‐18, 22‐25, 15‐8.

The last match against Cypress, on Nov. 4, resulted in a 25‐13, 22‐25, 25‐23, 19‐25, 15‐13 loss.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Another record-breaker on Coast volleyball

2009-12-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Orange Coast College's freshman setter Kimya Jafroudi (pictured) set a school Final 8 record against San Joaquin Delta Friday (Dec. 5) with her 64 assists at the California Community College Athletic Association state championships.

She also racked-up 64 assists in only four sets.

The lady Pirates won that game 21-25, 22-25, 26-24, 18-25.

Congratulations Kimya.

Click here to see her Pirate of the Week article.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Split at state championships

2009-12-05T07:38:00.001-08:00

Despite the playing the No. 4 seeded Sierra College, the No. 1 seeded Orange Coast College's women's volleyball team was upset by the Wolverines Friday (Dec. 4), 25-22, 18-25, 25-20, 26-24, at the California Community College Athletic Association state championships.

In its first match in the loser's bracket, the lady Pirates (21-3) eliminated San Joaquin Delta College 25-21, 25-22, 24-26, 25-18 to stay alive in the tournament.

Coast will play the loser of today's morning match at 1 p.m. and win another game after that to stay alive in the tournament. Coast will also need to win at least twice Sunday to claim the program's third state title in the last five seasons.

Freshman setter Kimya Jafroudi had 64 assists against Delta, Poe Gantt had 26 kills and Nikki Osuna had 20 digs.

Against Sierra, Gantt led the lady Pirates with 19 kills and Osuna had 18 digs.

That 18 digs set the single-season record for digs, previously held by Ashlee Moon (451 in 2006), and Osuna now has 473 heading into today.

Deal me in

2009-12-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

Freshman Amanda Deal (pictured) scored a career-high 25 points on Friday to defeat Allan Hancock College 71-67 at the semifinals of the Cuesta College Tournament.

Deal had five three-pointers and scored 16 of her 25 points in the second half to help the lady Pirates (6-3) advance to today's title game at 4 p.m.

Coast's Samantha Hansen added 11 points in the contest.

[Photo courtesy of Justin Yamasaki]

Opportunity to play at a $3 million stadium

2009-12-02T20:53:00.000-08:00

Right next to the Adams Avenue, a brand-new softball field is being built for the start of the 2010 spring season for Orange Coast College's softball team.

Head softball coach Ruby Rojas said she will have open tryouts for OCC students who are interested in suiting up for the lady Pirates next season.

"I will be holding tryouts January 5th at 1 p.m. and I am looking for eligible student athletes to come out for the 2010 season," Rojas said. "Especially since we just got a $3 million stadium."

Rojas is a 2008 Beijing Olympian athlete and batted cleanup for the Venezuelan national team. She also competed in the Canada Cup over the summer and led Venezuela to a third place finish.

To read a feature story about Rojas, click here. To read a feature story on some of the 2010 recruits, click here.

[Artist rendering courtesy of Orange Coast College]

Make it rain

2009-12-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

Head coach Mike Thornton said the Orange Coast College lady Pirates have been playing stressed out at the start of the season.

His goal at the third place game of the Santa Ana College Thanksgiving Tournament was for his players to be stress-free and relax on offense. The lady Pirates (4-3) did just that and responded with making a season-high 12 three pointers on Sunday (Nov. 29) to defeat Solano College, 81-50, at the Cook Gym.

"I'm a little bit of a perfectionist and have been a bit demanding," Thornton said. "Our goal today was to come out relaxed on offense and I think we did that today."

Sophomore Jenna Lujan (pictured), who led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds Sunday, was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Thornton said that he asked Lujan to be more assertive on offense this season and this was the first time she did that this season.

"Coach has been talking about being more offensive minded - and not just defensive," Lujan said. "I'm still looking for my players, but firstly, looking for my layups and finishing strong."

Thornton was also impressed by her defense - especially against San Bernardino Valley College on Saturday.

"I think she had only nine points but took four charges," he said. "I think that's the most charges anyone has taken at Coast in a game."

Freshman Tiffany Montiero added 10 points off the bench and contributed two of the 12 three pointers on Sunday. Lujan converted three of the 12.

Coast's Sam Hansen scored nine points, Helena Robel scored eight and Alyssa Hanson and Michelle Yamasaski scored seven also.

"We have a lot of people that can play - we play about 12 people," Hanson said. "We have a lot of people rotating in-and-out, pretty quick."

Lujan also echoes that statement.

"It's cool knowing that we can all score," she said. "We don't have that one go-to-player. We can all drive, finish, make free throws so it just equals it all out."

OCC returns to action on Thursday (Dec. 3) at the Cuesta College Tournament against the College of the Redwoods, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Ouch!

2009-12-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

Orange Coast College's Alyssa Hanson (No. 12) said she suffered a bloody lip early in the first half Sunday (Nov. 29) after her teammate Jenna Lujan "elbowed me in the mouth."

"Oh my gosh I feel so bad," Lujan said. "I told her she went after my rebound and she was in post territory. But I feel really bad about that."

Hanson returned to the game after getting her lip treated and finished with 7 points on 3-of-5 shooting.

"She was really sorry about it," Hanson said. "It just happens. It's OK. I'll just have a fat lip for awhile."

Also in the picture, trainer Dan Denzler on the left and teammate Bianca Carranza on the right.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

State finals for the second straight year

2009-12-02T06:31:00.000-08:00

Orange Coast College’s head women’s volleyball coach Chuck Cutenese reminded his team about all the bleachers they’ve run and all the push ups they did prior to the final set against Moorpark College.

“All of that was for this moment right now — being in shape, to be disciplined and to be focused,” Cutenese said to the fifth-ranked lady Pirates Saturday at the Southern California Regional Playoffs.

Coast (20-2) responded to their coach’s speech by playing an errorless final game to upset the fourth-ranked Raiders (20-3), 25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 16-25, 15-8, at the Raider Pavilion and move onto the state championship for the second consecutive year.

“We’ve worked so hard for this and we were seeded lower than this team,” said sophomore libero Nikki Osuna, who led Coast with 26 digs. “We wanted to show everyone that they need to stop underestimating us.”

Osuna, who redshirted last year due to a knee injury and missed the state championship, now has 435 digs for the season and needs 17 more to break the school single-season record (451) set by Ashlee Moon in 2006.

“I started crying right at the end,” she said. “From last year, being at state and just watching it, it’s driven me so much just to want to be on the court this year.”

Coast sophomore outside hitters Poe Gantt led the lady Pirates with 16 kills with Rachel Freeno trailing behind with 15 kills in the contest.

Coast sophomore outside hitter and middle blocker Briana Fields, who finished with 13 kills, added that she doesn’t agree with their ranking.

“I personally think we’re better than our ranking,” she said, “but the good thing about being ranked low is that people underestimate you and we can come out and show them what we’ve got.”

Fields was the only lady Pirate to be selected for the 2009 All-State SoCal team. She was also one of two players from the SoCal region to be selected for the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s All American first team.

“They anticipate she’s going to get the ball and (Field) is hitting against two people every time,” Cutenese said. “I think that shows how good of a player she is.”

But Cutenese said freshman setter Kimya Jafroudi, who compiled a game-high 54 assists Saturday, has gone unnoticed and is the lady Pirates’ unsung hero this season.

“They make all the decisions and she’s done a fantastic job, especially as a freshman,” Cutenese said of setters. “That’s a lot of pressure on (Jafroudi) and she’s really come through.”

Despite being ranked No. 5 at the start, Coast is now the highest-ranked team out of SoCal to make it to the state championship.

Now as the No. 1 ranked team, the lady Pirates face fourth-ranked Sierra College Wolverines Friday at the California Community Colleges Athletic Association Women’s Volleyball Championship.

The state championship is held at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. and is a double-elimination tournament that ends on Sunday.

“I set a goal for this team and it was to get back to the state tournament,” Cutenese said. “We came up against a real strong Moorpark team — they were real physical, real aggressive — and (we) really pulled through at the end and I’m really proud of them.”

[Photos by Tony Lee]

No Thanksgiving hangover for the lady Pirates

2009-11-27T19:34:00.000-08:00

The lady Pirates put their hands in the middle and yelled out "team" before the opening tip-off of the Santa Ana College Thanksgiving Tournament Friday (Nov. 27).

That word is probably the best way to describe the 2009-10 Orange Coast College women's basketball team because, according to head coach Mike Thornton, there are no superstars on the roster.

But to win, the lady Pirates do not need a No. 1 offensive option. With its top four scoring leaders only separated by four points Friday, Coast (3-2) shared the ball as a team en route to a 56-47 win over Merced College (1-4) at the Cook Gym.

"Through the first four games, we had a different leading scorer every game," Thornton said.

But Coast forward Sam Hansen, fresh off a 21 point performance in a 76-74 overtime win over Cerritos College on Nov. 18, is one of the front-runners to be that No. 1 scoring option.

Hansen scored 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting (4-of-4 on free throws) Friday to become the lady Pirates' first back-to-back scoring leader this season.

"When I'm in, I'm going to give it my all," she said.

Hansen also had a team-high four steals in the contest and was a big part of Coast's full-court defensive press that resulted in 20 first half Merced turnovers.

Because of that, the lady Pirates closed the first half on a 7-0 run and carried over the momentum at the start of the second half with an 8-1 run to give themselves a 15 point cushion with 14 minutes left in the game.

"We practiced that a lot," Hansen said of the full court press defense. "We just want to execute that to give ourselves more chances for baskets."

Coast freshman Amanda Deal, who scored 11 points on 2-of-2 shooting and 6-of-8 from the free throw line, added that because no one is a No. 1 offensive option, their team unity shows on both sides of the court.

"We're always working hard (and) I can count on any girl at any time when we're playing," she said. "We all just want to win and it shows."

The other top scorers for Coast were sophomore Jenna Lujan, who also led the lady Pirates with two blocks and four assists, and freshman Tiffany Monteiro (2-of-4 on three pointers) with eight points.

"We have to work really hard together," Hansen said. "We win as a team, we lose as a team."

Coast will play against San Bernardino Valley College Saturday (Nov. 28) in the second round of the tournament at 5 p.m. at Cook Gym.

[Photos by Tony Lee]

Second place for the Pirates

2009-11-21T16:39:00.000-08:00

The lady Pirates cross country team will not defend its state championship as Coast fell to Glendale College by 37 points at the 2009 California Community College State Championship at Woodward Park in Fresno Saturday (Nov. 21).

Glendale finished first at 43 points and Mt. San Antonio College finished third with 92 points.

To lead the lady Pirates once again was sophomore standout Kimone Hewitt, who finished in third with a 18:05.30 mark.

Coast's Hillary Labelle finished 16th (18:52.24), Jane Kerner finished 22nd (18:59.93), Andrea Gayton-Jacob finished 23rd (19:05.74), Sara Toberty finished 28thh (19:16.83), Andrea Guerra finished 42nd (19:37.02) and Margaret McDuffee finished 62nd (19:58.57).

The men's squad also finished in second place Saturday.

San Bernardino Valley won the state championship with a 67 and OCC finished 66 points behind with a 133 to finish in second.

Third place finisher was Glendale College at 164.

Coast was led by sophomore standout Russell Westphal, who finished 13th with a mark of 20:41.94.

Eric Dyson finished 24th with 20:55.35, Sergio Olivarrias finished 29th with 20:58.04, Pedro Saucedo finished 31st with 20:59.68, Jake Dawson finished 44th with 21:10.20, Francisco Baquero finished 63rd with 21:24.30 and Jorge Torres at 124th with 22:05.03.

[Photos from the Orange Empire Conference finals and courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Nov. 18 issue of the Coast Report

2009-11-18T20:03:00.000-08:00

This week's top headline of the Coast Report's sports page is the men's and women's cross country team going to the state championship on Saturday (Nov. 21) to Fresno.

Sports column "It's Me, Tony Lee" is about football player Ray Holley who set OCC's all-time single season rushing record Saturday (Nov. 14) in Coast's final game of the season.

This week's Pirates of the Week are Nikki Osuna, who almost set a school record in digs, and Antonio Dominquez, who scored seven goals in the men's water polo playoff games.

Also, more than 50 percent of the 2009 OCC spring athletes made the honor roll.

All the articles are available on www.coastreportonline.com.

Top of the rowing world

2009-11-18T07:19:00.000-08:00

The Orange Coast College men's crew team defeated many Division-I, four-year universities and placed first and second place in the Head of the Harbor's Novice 8 race at San Pedro Harbor Sunday (Nov. 15).

Out of the seven teams in the race, Coast's A team finished at 15:55 for first and Coast's B team finished second at 16:42, which beat third place UC Santa Barbara by five seconds.

In the Varsity 8 race, Coast's A team lost a neck-to-neck race to USC (15:26) by just one second and finished second at 15:27.

Coast's B team finished behind third place Loyola Marymount University (15:54) and UC Irvine's A team (15:57) at 16:29 to finish fifth out of nine teams.

[Photos courtesy of Dan Ferons]

Men's soccer ends in a shutout

2009-11-17T21:54:00.000-08:00

Prior to the 4-0 loss to Riverside Community College in its season finale Friday (Nov. 13), Orange Coast College's men’s soccer team was ranked 16th in the region.

However, the loss bounced Coast (8-10-3, 5-6-3) out of playoff contention and the Pirates finished the season 19th in the southern region with a 1.7286 power ranking.

“We thought we would be much better than we did,” head men’s soccer coach Laird Hayes said. “We were wrecked by injuries. We just got disseminated.”

On top of injuries, Hayes said he lost some players due to academic ineligibility and a lack of sophomore leadership also hurt the team down the stretch.

“I’m not blaming the kids. That’s our responsibility as coaches,” Hayes said of coaching leadership, “to try to teach that, get them to buy into it. (The coaching staff) learned a lot, we got a lot to do, make amends and improve for the next year.”

The Pirates were led by Jordan Gorman (six goals, nine assists) and William Munoz's (pictured) nine goals and two assists this season.

[Photo by Hank Schellingerhout]

Lady Pirates playoff bound

2009-11-17T21:35:00.000-08:00

After defeating Irvine Valley College due to a forfeit Friday (Nov. 13), the lady Pirates (14-5-1, 10-5-1 in the Orange Empire Conference) finished the season ranked 12th in the southern region with a 2.0425 power ranking.

This earned Coast a playoff spot and the lady Pirates will face the fifth-ranked Cypress College (16-3-2) Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.

Head women’s coach Kevin Smith said that one of the key wins that helped the lady Pirates to make it to the playoffs this season was the victory against Riverside Community College in the OEC opener on Sept. 15.

“To be honest with you, out of the bat, Riverside on the road, turned out to be a pretty big win,” Smith said of beating the 10th ranked team in the southern region.

However, Coast didn’t find the same success against OEC's top two teams, Santiago Canyon College (ranked first in the southern region) and Cypress, as the lady Pirates went 0-4 against them and was outscored 12-to-one in those games.

“We just have to find a way to beat Santiago and Cypress,” Smith said.

The lady Pirates will rely on Kallie Ryker (pictured), the No. 1 goal scorer in the OEC with 19 goals and eight assists, Taryn Bales (eight goals, 14 assists) and Laura Tishler (nine goals, six assists).

If Coast beats the Chargers Saturday (Nov. 21), the lady Pirates face the winner of fourth-ranked Moorpark College and 13th-rank San Diego Miramar College on Tuesday (Nov. 24).

[Photo by Hank Schellingerhout]

It's Me, Tony Lee: Holley is the best ever at OCC

2009-11-15T20:13:00.000-08:00

It’s hard to explain what Orange Coast College football player Ray Holley has that makes him the best running back our school has ever seen.

On Saturday, Holley, playing in his 10th game of the season and his fourth with a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL), needed 252 yards to break the school’s single-season rushing record of 1,442 yards set by Jeff Clayton in 11 games.

The 5-foot-9-inch sophomore from El Modena High School knew what he needed to do and opted not to tape his knee so he wouldn’t have to think about the injury.

As a result, Holley played in arguably his best game at OCC, rushing for 266 yards and all five of the team’s touchdowns on Saturday and set the all-time record at 1,457 yards in a season.

“It feels great,” Holley said. “I worked for it, everyone else worked for it and they helped me get there. It was a great group of guys we played with and it was fun. I just wish that it would last another week.”

However, the Pirates did lose to Long Beach City College 42-38 and no one was more disappointed than Holley.

“It sucks to be a sophomore, come out and be this close to make it to a bowl game,” Holley said. “It just sucks to lose this way.”

But it’s not just the single-season rushing record that he’ll be known for.

“That kid’s got the most heart that I’ve ever seen,” said teammate Jimmy Keating after the 33-27 triple overtime victory against Santa Ana College on Oct. 10.

Holley sprained MCL on the Pirates’ first offensive possession in that game but played through the injury and finished with 42 carries for 191 yards and three touchdowns n the last being the game winning score.

That’s not just having heart. That’s having courage, determination and pride like no other athlete I’ve ever come across.

Ever.

He also puts on an eye-black before every game with the initial PIW — which stands for put in work.

“The guy’s a solider,” sophomore teammate Jimmy Keating said. “Put in work is his motto. He puts in the work everyday and no one wanted (Saturday’s game) more than him.”

Head coach Mike Taylor said that Holley not only puts his time in on the football field during practice, but he also studies films regularly and puts the effort in the weight room.

“Ray’s a great kid; I’ve said that from the get-go,” he said. “He’s a team kid, the team loves him, he’s got lots of energy (and) he practices hard.”

This season, Holley had 75 percent of the Pirates’ touchdowns, involved in 45.3 percent of plays of scrimmage and rushed for 311 times — almost 100 more times than the previous record holder Bart Recktenwald (216).

The stats and records he has set speak volumes about his football abilities but it’s what’s behind pads and the helmet that makes him truly stands out.

This season, he’s also showed all the Coast fans the expression of “leaving everything out on the field.” This season, he showed what it means to play through an injury.

Records are mean to be broken but I hope no one breaks the school records Holley’s set in 2009.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Darrius Young to the rescue

2009-11-14T20:45:00.000-08:00

The Vikings advanced 84 yards on nine plays to score on the Pirates and took the lead with 1:11 left in the game.

Long Beach's Darrius Young had two critical 22-yard receptions, the second of those being a touchdown, to put the Vikings up 42-38.

On the ensuing kickoff, Coast's Cody Matthews returns it for 24 yards and puts the Pirates on the 39-yard line.

After one incompletion, Coast's Kyle Manning connected with Calvin Brister on a 20-yard pass to get the Pirates to the 41 yard line.

With 32 seconds left, on third-and-10, the Pirates ran a draw for Ray Holley to get it to the 36-yard line and then converted on the fourth-and-five on a pass to Kyle Burdett.

On the last play of the game, six-seconds left, Manning's pass was deflected and the Pirates lose, 42-38.

EDIT
Complete stats can be found here.

New all-time rusher

2009-11-14T20:24:00.000-08:00

Ray Holley has the record!

After the Pirates scored on a seven-yard touchdown from Holley (that put the Pirates up 38-35 with less than nine minutes left in the game), he got the carry on the next Coast offensive possession and got the record on a 15-yard toss.

Prior to his touchdown, Coast's Brandon Estrada put the Pirates in great field position with a 26-yard end around (or reverse) run.

Congratulations "Smalley Holley."

[Photo by Kevin Warn]

Only 16 more yards

2009-11-14T20:08:00.000-08:00

Ray Holley is so close to the record.

Holley led the Pirates with a 30- and 21-yard runs and scored on a two-yard run to give OCC a 31-28 lead.

Holley needed 253 yards to break the record set by Jeff Clayton in 1993 (1,442 yards in a season).

But the Vikings were once again quick to counter. Genesis Fonoimoana, who scored earlier on an interception, returned the kickoff for a 88-yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 35-31 lead with 12:44 left.

First and 10 on the 34 yard line with 12:24 left in the game.

Scoring update 3

2009-11-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

Vikings did not wait long to answer back Ray Holley's touchdown.

Long Beach traveled down 78 yards on eight plays to score on Ruben Laurente's one-yard run and take a 28-24 lead (pictured).

After both teams exchanged possessions with punts, the Pirates now have the ball on the Vikings 45 yard line at the end of the third quarter.

Holley also has 184 yards - 68 more yards for the school record.

LBCC 28, OCC 24.

[Photo courtesy of JohnoMoto Photography]

Only 100 more yards!

2009-11-14T19:38:00.000-08:00

Ray Holley needs only 100 more yards to break the OCC rushing record.

On the first drive of the second half Holley scored on a 13-yard TD run; he also had runs of 10 and 15 in that drive.

The score is now 24-21, advantage OCC, with 11:46 left in the third quarter.

Quick strike

2009-11-14T19:02:00.001-08:00

The Vikings weren't down for long, despite having less than two minutes left in the half.

Quarterback Kevin Lubner (pictured), with 20 seconds left in the half, throws a perfect fade pass to wide receiver Darrius Young for a 32-yard touchdown.

However, Coast coaches talked to the referees after the play for what I can only assume as the coach's asking why an offensive pass interference wasn't called.

Score is 21-17 at the half, in favor of Long Beach CC.

[Photo courtesy of JohnoMoto Photography]

Scoring update 2

2009-11-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

The Pirates stopped the Vikings and forced another three-and-out.

Coast's Joe Galvez, who muffed his last punt return, had a much better returned on his second try and returned it for 18 yards.

Ray Holley (pictured) was once again Coast's main offensive weapon as he got the Pirates' first 20 yards, 10 from a reception. However, Coast failed to get it field goal range and was forced to punt.

Pirates defense forced another three-and-out and Bryce Brantley added a sack, but Galvez muffed his second punt of the night.

On the Viking's second offensive life, the Pirates forced a fumble on the very next play.

Coast capitalized off that turnover and scored. Holley also added a 33-,10 and 9-yard run in that drive and has 105 yards in the game. The nine-yard run was for a touchdown with 1:52 left in the half.

Holley need 147 yards for the school record.

14-7 Coast.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Naughty, naughty

2009-11-14T18:27:00.000-08:00

The Vikings take a 14-3 lead after a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown by Genesis Fonoimoana, but he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for "crip walking" after his TD.

But Kyle Manning quickly answered back with a 26-yard completion to wide receiver Kyle Burdett to put behind the interception.

Ray Holley added 30 yards to this drive and scored on a one-yard run with 12:53 left in the second quarter.

Holley now has 36 yards on 11 carries with one TD. He needs 216 more yards to break the school's all-time rushing record.

[Photo courtesy of Getty Images]

Vikings take the lead

2009-11-14T18:17:00.000-08:00

The Pirates stopped Long Beach with a three and out but Joe Galvez muffed he punt and gave the ball back to the Vikings at the 30-yard line.

Long Beach's Daveon Barner eventually scored on a one-yard run with 4:48 left in the first quarter. David Covey's extra point attempt was good.

Score is 7-3, advantage Vikings.

Scoring update 1

2009-11-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

Long Beach stated the game with a 21-yard run by Daveon Barner but failed to get into field goal range in the Pirates 49.

The Pirates went three and out after Calvin Brister dropped a perfectly thrown pass from quarterback Kyle Manning, but recovered the ball on the 29-yard line after the Vikings muffed the punt.

After three runs from Ray Holley for six yards and no pass completions, the Pirates put up three with a 40-yard Lucas Vandeman (pictured) field goal.

Score, 3-0 Pirates, with 9:40 left in the first quarter.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Holley Watch

2009-11-14T17:43:00.000-08:00

Orange Coast College's sophomore running back Ray Holley needs 252 yards to break the school single-season rushing record of 1,442 yards set by Jeff Clayton in 1993.

Holley averages 132.3 yards per game but has been held below 100 yards per game in the last three contests. He is still ranked No. 3 in the state.

During the game, there will be constant updates on Holley's progress, under "Holley Watch."

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Final football game of the season: OCC at Long Beach CC

2009-11-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

This is a copy of a report from the Daily Pilot's Barry Faulkner

Key Pirates:

Sophomore running back Ray Holley (1,191 yards and 13 TDs on 269 rushing attempts)
Sophomore outside linebacker Jimmy Keating (56 tackles, 11 for losses)
Freshman outside linebacker Travis McNaughton (47 tackles)
Sophomore free safety Keahi Raikes (three interceptions)

Breakdown:

The Pirates (5-4, 1-4 in the National Division), ranked No. 14 in Southern California, end their regular season against the Vikings (2-7, 1-4).
Holley needs 252 yards to break the school single-season rushing record of 1,442 yards set by Jeff Clayton in 1993 ... Holley ranks No. 3 in the state in rushing yards per game (132.3).
OCC’s defense is No. 4 in the state in rushing yards allowed per game (68.4).
The Pirates’ rank No. 70 among 71 schools in passing rating and have completed just 36.5% of their passes. OCC quarterbacks have four TD passes and 16 interceptions.
Both teams’ lone division win was against Santa Ana Collge.
LBCC has allowed 40.8 points per game.

Postseason splash

2009-11-11T07:36:00.000-08:00

Impressive showings by Orange Coast College's men's and women's water polo squads earned the Pirates a spot at the Southern California Regional Tournament at Pasadena City College, starting on Thursday (Nov. 12).

The lady Pirates, led by Brittany Daniels' five goals (right), defeated Saddleback College and the No. 1 seeded Golden West College at the Orange Empire Conference Tournament over the weekend to advance to the championship match.

Unfortunately, Coast fell to Riverside Community College 9-4 to finish in second place, but the impressive OEC Tournament showing earned the lady Pirates a No. 3 seed at SoCal Regionals.

Against Saddleback and Golden West, Mary Jane Cooney and Alex Garcia added a total of three goals while Jamie Bee added two.

Coast, 20-9 overall this season, faces Chaffey College Friday at 2 p.m. in the first round of the playoffs.

The men's team, led by Casey Sullivan's nine goals in the OEC Tournament (left), finished one-step behind the ladies as the Pirates finished third overall.

After beating Santa Ana College 18-9, the Pirates lost to Riverside 12-7 in the semifinals but bounced back to beat Saddleback for third place.

This showing earned the Pirates, 19-9 overall record this season, a No. 7 seed in the SoCal Regionals and will face the 10th-seeded Saddleback Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at PCC.

Against Saddleback in the OEC Tournament, Adam Smith was the team leader with three goals, while Kyle Thorsness and Adam Thomas each added two goals.

If the men's team defeat the Gauchos, then the Pirates take on the No. 2 seed Long Beach City College later that day, starting at 5:45 p.m.

[Photos courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Lucky No. 13

2009-11-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

The top 16 teams in the northern and southern region make the postseason for men's and women's soccer.

At the moment, according to ccsoccernews.com, both Orange Coast College's men's and women's soccer teams are ranked 13th and staying alive with one game to go.

The Pirates (8-9-3, 5-5-3 in Orange Empire Conference) will play the No. 12 ranked Riverside Community College, away, at 3 p.m. Friday (Nov. 13) which may affect the postseason seeding for Coast.

The lady Pirates (13-5-1, 9-5-1) will finish the season off with a guaranteed-win Friday due to a forfeit by Irvine Valley College because of a lack of healthy players.

Check back on the OCC Sports Blog on Saturday to see the official playoff bracket of both teams.

Excellence on and off the field

2009-11-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Over 50 percent of Orange Coast College's athletes achieved honor roll status for the spring 2009 semester and it is the best record Athletic Director Barbara Bond can remember in her recent years.

Out of the 316 athletes in the 14 spring sports, 159 - or 51 percent - earned a 3.0 GPA or higher in addition to completing a minimum of 12 units and playing their sport.

Bond said in a press release that Coast athletes' honor roll rate is around 47 percent but was pleasantly surprised to see it go over the 50 percent mark. 17 athletes had a perfect 4.0 GPA and 55 others had 3.5 GPA or better.

Women's swimming and diving team led the OCC athletics with a combined 3.2 GPA. “More of our coaches are encouraging them to do well,” Bond said of Coast's academic success in the press release.

The athletic program recently introduced study hall for student athletes at the Student Success Center. Even if the athletes don’t take advantage of free tutoring and study services, the message is clear: “grades are important,” Bond said in the press release.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Nov. 4 issue of the Coast Report

2009-11-04T22:26:00.001-08:00

This week's top headline of the Coast Report's sports page is the men's water polo team making the playoffs. The Pirates will face Santa Ana Friday (Nov. 6) at Fullerton College.

Also, the Pirates of the Week are Russel Westphal and Jane Kerner from the OCC cross country team.

The football team lost its second-straight National Division game and the Pirates' bowl game hopes seems to be unattainable.

In pages four and five of the Coast Report, "Sports stretched with fewer games and assistant coaches" talks about how the statewide budget cuts have affected OCC's sports program.

Sports column "It's Me, Tony Lee" is only available to view on the OCC Sports Blog this week.

All the articles are available on www.coastreportonline.com.

It's Me, Tony Lee: What didn't kill them made them stronger

2009-11-04T07:07:00.000-08:00

There’s an unspoken law when it comes to sports when you play a rival.

It doesn’t matter if you are injured, tired or trailing by 100 points. You never give up, you play with all the effort in your body and, most importantly, don’t let the rival embarrass you.

Ever.

But for the Orange Coast College women’s volleyball team, the lady Pirates did get embarrassed, badly, at home, to cross-town rivals Golden West College and I wondered how it’ll affect the team going forward.

Coast had a 23-17 lead in the fourth set and needed only two more points to win, but the lady Pirates let the Rustlers go on an 8-1 run and lost its first match of the season on Oct. 7.

Coast came into that match not even losing a single set for the season. But after losing its first set, the lady Pirates folded like a lawn chair and choked against its toughest opponent this season.

“I’m completely disappointed in my team’s performance, especially in game four.” Coast head coach Chuck Cutenese said back in Oct. 7 when his team lost 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 29-27.

“We came out in game one and played well, then we got flat in game two and flat in game three. You know, good teams don’t lose (after leading) 24-21. We lost our focus. People couldn’t put the ball away. We weren’t swinging to win; we were swinging not to lose.”

This was the turning point in Coast’s season. If the women fail to bounce back from this embarrassing loss, then the No. 3 ranked lady Pirates might throw away a potential state championship-winning team.

In that match, many of the fans were even pro-Rustlers. OCC fans were outnumbered in a good five-to-one ratio.

Coast libero Nikki Osuna (bottom) said “It didn’t even seem like our own gym” and outside hitter Rachel Freeno (top) said "We're a lot better than we played - a whole lot better. And we'll get them next time in their gym."

There’s something to be said about getting embarrassed – not lose but completely get pummeled by a rival – because the lady Pirates bounced back strong since then.

Since Oct. 7, Coast has won its last seven matches – three sweeps and three hard-fought five-set matches – and moved back up to No. 5 in the state rankings.

But most importantly, Freeno was right. The lady Pirates did get Golden West Friday (Oct. 30) by sweeping the No. 11 ranked Rustlers 25‐16, 25‐15, 25‐20.

What didn’t kill the lady Pirates made them stronger. If Coast makes it to the state championship, it’ll be because of how the team bounced back from that embarrassing loss to a rival.

EDIT
The lady Pirates' winning streak came to a halt Wednesday (Nov. 4) when the seventh-ranked Cypress College defeated Coast in five sets 25-13, 22-25, 25-23, 19-25, 15-13.

I guess I jinxed it huh?

To read that game summary written by OCC's Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli, click here.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Bucs football pummeled at home

2009-11-01T22:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early for Saddleback College as the Orange Coast College football team turned the ball over five times in the first half en route to a 52-14 blowout at the LeBard Stadium on Halloween night.

“That obviously gets you off on the wrong foot against a good football team and we really never recovered,” OCC head coach Mike Taylor said of Coast (5-3, 1-3 in the National Division) starting the game trailing 31-0, 28 of those coming off a Coast turnover.

On top of the turnovers, Saddleback (7-2, 3-2) contained Ray Holley, the No. 2 running back in the state, as he averaged less than three-yards per carry in the first half and finished with 96 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns.

“For the most part, (teams) are stacking the box because it’s the way to go,” Holley said. “The teams that are doing it and doing it well are stopping us.”

Holley now has 1,144 yards this season and is OCC’s No. 5 all-time rusher. According to OCC’s Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli, Holley is 11 yards behind Tony Accomondo’s mark set in 1975 and 298 behind Jeff Clayton’s all-time total of 1,442 yards, set in 1993.

However, Coast quarterback Kyle Manning, who completed nine-of-15 passes for 155 yards in the first half, gave a spark to a struggling Pirates’ passing game that averaged only 128.2 yards per game this season.

Manning finished the game completing 19-of-50 passes for 231 yards but was one pass attempt shy of holding OCC’s record of number of pass attempts in a game, set by Alvin White in 1972 against Mt. San Antonio College, by himself.

He would’ve had the record to himself but on his last pass attempt, Manning was sacked — one of his five sacks on the night. He was also on the opposing end of Saddleback’s three roughing the passer penalties.

“I’ll be a little sore tomorrow but it’s football,” Manning said. “But like I said, when we looked good today, we looked good.”

Coast’s last home game is Saturday against Palomar College at 1 p.m. The Pirates finish off its season Nov. 14 at Long Beach City College, starting at 6 p.m.

“Now the potentials gone way down,” Holley said of the team having a bowl game opportunity. “We have two more games and we have to win them both and that doesn’t guarantee us a third game. It hurts, it sucks but we got to move on and keep our heads up.”

Saddleback scores back to back

2009-10-31T20:31:00.000-07:00

Saddleback's Aziz Spellman-Smith scores on a 23-yard wide receiver crossing run to make the score 52-14.

Coast's Lano Fuentes returned the kickoff to the 48-yard line but was tackled by Saddleback's kicker Michael Frisina.

With 10:40 left in the game, Pirates need to score 38 points to tie the game.

Man(ning) in charge

2009-10-31T19:46:00.000-07:00

Last time Orange Coast College Kyle Manning started at LeBard Stadium, he was replaced by his backup Ethan Whitsell after throwing two interceptions on 1-of-6 completions.

On Halloween night, Manning is not watching from the sidelines and instead leading the Pirates' comeback charge.

In the opening driver, Manning guided Coast to a 6:50, 13 play, 69 yards drive that was capped by another one-yard Ray Holley touchdown.

Score is 38-14 in favor of Saddleback.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

First half scores

2009-10-31T19:34:00.000-07:00

Saddleback - Cameron Chadwick four-yard run (Michael Frisina kick), 7-0
Saddleback - Frisina 26-yard field goal, 10-0
Saddleback - Marc Moody 29-yard pass from Brad Curtis (Frisina kick), 17,0
Saddleback - Chadwick four-yard run (Frisina kick), 24,0
Saddleback - Jeremy Rodenburg 62-yard interception return (Frisina kick), 31-0
Orange Coast - Ray Holley one-yard run (Lucas Vandeman kick), 31-7
Saddleback - Tre Villahermosa 13-yard pass from Curtis (Frisina kick), 38-7

Christmas comes early for Saddleback

2009-10-31T19:33:00.001-07:00

Orange Coast College football team has fumbled the ball four times, gave up 179 total offensive yards, star running back Ray Holley is averaging less than three yards a carry and the lone interception was returned for a 62-yard touchdown.

This has led to a nice gift for the Saddleback College Gauchos as they are up 38-7 on Halloween night.

On a bright note, Coast's Kyle Manning is throwing the ball well (9-of-15 for 155 yards).

Pirates will have the ball to start the second half.

Fastest of them all

2009-10-31T15:41:00.000-07:00

Orange Coast College's cross country teams proved Friday that both men's and women's squads are the team to beat for the 2009 state championship.

At the Orange Empire Conference Cross Country Tournament in Huntington Beach's Central Park, the men's squad finished first with 26 points - beating out Riverside Community College (53) and Fullerton College (75).

The Pirates were led by Russel Westphal's (right) second place finish of 20:30.6 in the men's four-mile run.

Coast's Jake Dawson finished third (20:39.9), Eric Dyson fourth (20:47.0), Sergio Olivarrias eighth (21:07.3), Jorge Torres ninth (21:07.9) and Francisco Baquero tenth (21:10.9).

The lady Pirates finished first in the women's 5K run with 18 points beating Riverside (52) and Fullerton (96) easily.

Top three runners in the event were all from Coast - first playing being Kimone Hewitt's (left) 18:31.4.

In fact, seven out of the top 10 runners were lady Pirates.

Coast's Jane Kerner finished second (18:39.9), Margaret McDuffee third (18:48.5), Hillary Labelle fifth (19:02.3), Andrea Guerra seventh (19:17.2), Sara Toberty eight (19:22.5) and Andrea Gayton-Jacob ninth (19:28.5).

All times and results can be viewed at DirectAthletics.com.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Game preview: Saddleback vs. OCC

2009-10-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

Orange Coast College's football team (5-2, 1-2 in the National Division) will host Saddleback College (6-2, 2-2) at LeBard Stadium on Halloween night at 7 p.m.

Both teams lost last week: the Pirates to Grossmont College 43-12 and the Gauchos to Fullerton College 22-13.

The No. 12 ranked Pirates are led by running back Ray Holley (pictured) on offense (1,048 yards, 11 TDs rushing) and by linebacker Jimmy Keating on defense (49 tackles, nine for loss).

Coast's run defense is ranked No. 2 in the state with a 42.1 yards per game allowed average.

However, the passing defense last week was torched for 416 yards.

Another weakness of the Pirates is its passing game. Coast quarterbacks have completed only 36.8 percent of their passes with 13 interceptions to three touchdown passes.

Saddleback, ranked No. 11 in SoCal and No. 17 in the state, is led by running back Jai Morris (pictured) with his 110.1 all-purpose yards per game average on offense.

Morris, quarterback David Ingram (157.9 passing yards per game) and wide receiver T.J. Knowles (73.9 yards per game) led a potent Saddleback offense that averages 35.6 points per game.

This game will be covered live on the OCC Sports Blog and Twitterstarting at 7 p.m. today (Oct. 31).

Also, you can view the blog on your smartphone by typing in http://mippin.com/occsports.

[Photo of Holley courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout, photo of Morris courtesy of JCGridiron.com]

OCC Sports Blog for your iPhone, Blackberry

2009-10-25T18:58:00.000-07:00

The OCC Sports Blog is now friendly for your iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pre or any other smartphones available.

To view the blog on your phone, type in http://mippin.com/occsports. To read more about it, click here ->

[Photo courtesy of djvibe.com]

What loss to Golden West?

2009-10-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

After the Orange Coast College women's volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season, the lady Pirates have won five-straight games - the latest on Friday (Oct. 23) against Santa Ana College.

A variety of Coast (12-1, 6-1 in the Orange Empire Conference) players filled up the box score Friday at the Peterson Gym as the fifth-ranked lady Pirates beat the Dons 25-19, 25-15, 25-13 in straight sets.

Sophomore Briana Fields (pictured) and freshman Kristin Rice each had seven kills to lead Coast.

Sophomore libero Nikki Osuna tallied 14 digs, while teammates Khrystilin Santos and Alyssa Huotari each added 11 digs.

Freshman setter Catherine Cameron dished out 24 assists.

The win keeps the lady Pirates tied at the top of the OEC standings with Fullerton College and Golden West College.

Santa Ana's Teuila Hernandez led the Dons with eight kills.

Coast returns home to Peterson Gym Wednesday (Oct. 28) to play against Saddleback College at 6 p.m.

EDIT
The lady Pirates defeated Golden West College Friday (Oct. 30) and has not lost since Oct. 7. Additional game information will be up on the blog later this week.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

A Gross defeat

2009-10-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

The halftime score of the National Division game between Orange Coast College and host Grossmont College was close - 10-3 in favor of the Griffins.

But when the final whistle blew, the Pirates (5-2, 1-2 in the division) suffered its most lopsided loss in 73 games Saturday with a 43-12 loss at Mashin-Roth Memorial Stadium, according to Daily Pilot's Barry Faulkner.

Grossmont (7-1, 2-1) was led by sophomore quarterback Matt Jarvis who completed 16-of-30 passes for 367 yards and touchdown passes of 61, 60, 50 and 37 yards.

However, the Griffins did not find success running as the Pirates defense allowed only 28 rushing yards on 30 attempts.

Coast also couldn't find success running the ball as the Pirates' No. 1 offensive weapon Ray Holley ran 26 times for just 50 yards with no touchdowns.

In Holley's last game against Santa Ana College on Oct 10., he ran for 191 yards on 42 carries with three touchdowns.

Coast's quarterback Ethan Whitsell, who recently earned the starting job, made his first start of the season and finished with 14-of-42 passes for 155 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.

Former starter Kyle Manning came in the game with 4:49 left in the game after Grossmont's Nick Cary threw a 16-yard touchdown to Jacob Podpora - making the score 43-6.

Manning completed 1-of-6 passes for seven-yards and was intercepted in the a two-point conversion attempt.

Pirates' lone touchdown came from Israel Lee's four-yard run. Kicker Lucas Vandeman converted field goals from 47 and 33 yards for the other two scores. Vandeman also had a field goal blocked from 27 yards.

For complete box score of the game, click here.

The Pirates return home to LeBard Stadium Saturday (Oct. 31) to play against Saddleback College at 6 p.m.

Where are the champs?

2009-10-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

The OCC Sports Blog suffered because yours truly went to visit potential colleges to transfer to next year.

For the loyal readers who missed out on a week's worth of Orange Coast College athletics, I am truly sorry.

But to continue on the topic of college transfers, here are some of the players from the 2009 state champion Pirate baseball team that moved onto other places.

The MVP of the state championship playoffs, starting catcher D.J.Arellano (right), is at New Mexico State University.

Pirates' lead off outfielder Ryan Sheeks is now a member of Concordia University Irvine Eagles.

Infielder Ryan Dunn, who was benched for the Super Regional Playoffs after a rough regular season but returned to the starting lineup in the State Championship to hit 7-for-14 with a home run, seven runs scored and six runs batted in (RBI), is at Oregon State University.

Pitcher Calvin Drummond, as a freshman, has transferred to University of San Diego.

As reported earlier, Brett Williams and Beck Wheeler are still going to USC and UC Santa Barbara, respectively.

Brett Wallach, the 2009 Orange Empire Conference Player of the Year, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round in the latest baseball draft.

After he signed with the Dodgers, Wallach (left), in 12 appearances with a Dodges affiliate Ogden Raptors, compiled a 0-1 record with a 5.23 earned run average (ERA) in 31 innings pitched wth 38 strikeouts.

Starting third baseman Drew Hillman, who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 38th round, is at UC Irvine to continue his baseball career.

Starting center fielder Mykal Stokes, drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 46th round, is back at Coast as a sophomore.

Head coach John Altobelli said in about two months, he'll have a better idea for the 2010 roster for the Pirates.

[Photos courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

"That kid’s got the most heart that I’ve ever seen"

2009-10-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Orange Coast College's running back Ray Holley (pictured) was literally like a Pirate Saturday because he was playing on only one good leg against Santa Ana College.

Holley suffered a MCL sprain in Coast's first offensive possession but he came came back to run 42 times for 191-yards and three touchdowns to lead the Pirates to a 33-27, triple-overtime victory Saturday at the LeBard Stadium.

"He's such a great kid and such a great player," head coach Mike Taylor said. "He kind of bit the bullet and played and got stronger even though he was playing on one leg."

The Pirates' defense was led by Jimmy Keating's 14 tackles (three for loss), 1.5 sacks and one pass breakup. He also added a game-ending interception to his stats that brought the 2,000 members at the LeBard Stadium to their feet.

"I just wanted to put the team on my shoulders and rep it," Keating said. "It was a make-or-break game for our season. If we would’ve lost, we would’ve gone 0-2 in league and no way we would’ve gone to a bowl game."

Pirates are now 5-1, 1-1 in conference play, and the Dons are 3-3, 0-2 in conference. To see complete stats of the game, click here.

To read more about the triple-overtime coverage on OCC Sports Blog's Twitter, click here.

To read Coast's Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli's game summary, click here.

Or click on the "football" tag and read the OCC Sports Blog's live-coverage of the game.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Pirates win the game!

2009-10-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

Ray Holley led the scoring attack once again for the Pirates and drew first blood in the third overtime.

However, the Pirates chose to go for two and quarterback Ethan Whitsell's pass was incomplete.

With the score at 33-27, the Dons almost scored on a Jordan Thomas pass that deflected off two Santa Ana receivers.

On third-and-three, the Pirates stuffed the Dons runner for a minus-three-yard carry.

Jimmy Keating gets the interception on fourth down, Pirates win.

Power to the kickers

2009-10-10T21:03:00.001-07:00

The Dons, staring at a 50-yard field goal attempt to start off the second overtime, looked to be in trouble.

However, Santa Ana's Chase Lansford laced the kick down the uprights with some spare room to put up three points on the board.

After a Coast three-and-out, Pirates kicker Lucas Vandeman answered back with a 37-yard field goal.

Score is tied 27-27 with the Pirates having the first attempt at the third overtime.

Pirates draw first blood, Dons answer back strong

2009-10-10T20:54:00.001-07:00

Ray Holley scored on a fourth-and-two run. The Dons responded with a 13-yard touchdown pass themselves.

The score is still tied at 22-apiece.

The Dons get the ball on the other side of the stadium first.

Overtime at the LeBard Stadium

2009-10-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

Pirates were one-yard away from ending the game on a Travis Sanford's sack/safety.

Many of the Coast fans said it was a safety but the refs ruled it as a sack at the one-yard line.

17-17 and the Pirates get the first try at the overtime - which both teams get the ball on the 25-yard line.

Wind in the Pirates' sails

2009-10-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

With the momentum switched over to the Pirates' side, the Dons went three-and-out.

Coast's Joe Galvez returned Santa Ana's punt for 20-yards and gave the Pirates the ball on the 43-yard line.

However, after a one-yard gain by Holley, then a four-yard sack on quarterback Ethan Whitsell, the Pirates stared down another third-and-long.

Coast called for a draw, about seven Dons were already in the backfield.

Ray Holley reversed to the other side and Whitsell made a key-block to get the Pirates a 10-yard gain.

Head coach Mike decided to punt the ball instead of going for the fourth down.

With 1:09 left in the game, the Dons are on its 10-yard line, staring down a third-and-six and the Pirates have no timeouts left.

An exciting finish is about to brew up at the LeBard Stadium.

All tied up

2009-10-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Pirates are back in field goal range with a 14-yard gain by Ray Holley, a 13-yard gain by Lano Fuentes and a 9-yard gain by Holley (on the 19-yard line).

Holley, who ran over two Dons players for another gain of seven (and put the Pirates inside the 10-yard line) is proving once gain as the most valuable player for Coast's offense.

However, Coast could not put it in the end zone with a touchdown but Lucas Vandeman made a 28-yard field goal to tie it up.

5:34 left, the game is tied at 17-17.

Call him Ray U-Holl-ey

2009-10-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

Coast running back Ray Holley (No. 22) is carrying the Pirates offense on his back.

The Pirates quarterbacks have not compiled for over 50-yards of passing yards this game.

Holley converted two third downs in the fourth quarter, but after a seven-yard sack that pushed the Pirates back to a second-and-17, Coast had to punt.

We'll see if Coast can stop the Dons on the 49-yard line.

EDIT
On the Dons' first drive, Coast's Bryce Brantley recorded a sack and forced a fumble.

Pirates, on their 47-yard line, ran the ball on its first play and Holley gained 14-yards on the run.

[Photo by Kevin Warn]

Pirates chipping away

2009-10-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

Coast linebacker Jimmy Keating (pictured) is leading the way for the Pirates comeback.

The Dons on a fourth down decided to go for it and was stopped behind the line of scrimmage by Keating - giving the Pirates the ball on its 48-yard line.

After a 16-yard run by Ray Holley on third down, the Pirates again converted on third down on a 13-yard reverse to Lano Fuentes.

However, a illegal block in the back was called on the Pirates. But on the Pirates next throw, SAC was called for roughing the passer - making it an automatic first down.

Holley ran for another big gain (13-yards) and eventually scored on a one-yard toss on the goal line.

Lucas Vanderman's extra point attempt was good. Pirates trail only by three, 14-17, with 1:12 left in the third.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Dons take a two-possesion lead

2009-10-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

The shifting of the quarterbacks seems to be working for the Dons.

The Dons have been subbing starter Jordan Thomas with reserve Travis Toon in the second half and it led to another Santa Ana touchdown.

Toon, on fourth and three on the 34-yard line, threw a pass to the sidelines and Dominique Williams came down with the football and the touchdown.

Chase Lanford's extra point attempt was good, the Pirates on its next possession went three-and-out and the Dons have the ball at the 33-yard line with a 7-17 lead. 7:33 left in the third quarter.

[Photo courtesy of Google.com]

Quarter-not-so-backs

2009-10-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Both teams have gone with different quarterbacks for the second half.

The Dons quarterback is now Travis Toon instead of Jordan Thomas. The Pirates have started Ethan Whitsell again in the second half.

EDIT
Jordan Thomas is back on the field for the Dons.

Halftime stats

2009-10-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Santa Ana/Orange Coast

Score: 7/10
First downs: 4/6
Rushes-yards (net): 19-85/14-25
Passing yards (net): 38/27
Passes attempt-completions-interceptions: 15-6-2/14-4-2
Total offense plays-yards: 34-123/28-52

Interceptions returns-yards: 2-15/2-13
Penalties-yards: 3-25/5-45
Possession time: 16:58/13:02

Third down conversion: 3 of 9/1 of 7
Red-zone scores-chances: 1-2/0-0

Passing leaders: Jordan Thomas (6-of-15 for 38 yards, 2 interceptions)/Kyle Manning (1-of-6 for 15 yards, 2 interceptions)
Rushing leaders: Devin DeLeon (56-yards on 2 carries, 1 TD)/Ray Holley (45-yards on 9 carries)
Receiving leaders: Anthony Martin (18-yards on 2 catches)/Kalii Kunitomo (15-yards on 1 catch)

Scoring plays
1st (14:47) - Lano Fuentes on a 94-yard kickoff return (Lucas Vanderman kick): 7-0
1st (8:21) - Chase Lansford on 38-yard field goal: 7-3
2nd (6:06) - Devin DeLeon on 49-yard run (Lansford kick): 7-10

[Stats provided by OCC's Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli]

Dons take the lead

2009-10-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

The Pirates seem like its own worst enemy tonight.

Ray Holley seems to be playing hurt, starting quarterback Kyle Manning is benched and the Pirates just gave up a 49-yard touchdown run to Santa Ana's Devin DeLeon.

Chase Lanford's extra point attempt is good and the score is 10-7 Dons with 6:06 left in the first half.

[Photo courtesy of Google]

Interception galore

2009-10-10T18:36:00.001-07:00

In the last three offensive possessions, there's been three interceptions.

First was from Coast's Anthony Curry, who caught the interception on the Don's two-yard line.

Coast's Kyle Manning, who may have thrown his last pass of the game, threw his second interception of the game to Santa Ana's Michael Neal.

On the Dons' next possession, quarterback Jordan Thomas also threw his second interception - this time to Keahi Raikes (pictured).

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Holley is back!

2009-10-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

Ray Holley is back on the field for the Pirates after sitting one offensive possession.

On his first carry, Holley ran for 11-yards out of the two-yard line.

On another note, Kyle Manning threw his second interception and is only one-for-six with 15-yards. Backup quarterback Ethan Whitsell is warming up on the sideline.

EDIT

Whitsell will be starting for the Pirates at the start of the second quarter.

Coast's star player may be injured

2009-10-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

Coast's No. 1 offensive weapon Ray Holley (pictured) might be out of this game for good.

On the Pirates' second offensive possession, Holley carried the ball twice for five yards and then laid on the ground after trying to protect Kyle Manning from being sacked.

Manning ended up being sacked for 10-yards.

On the Pirates' next possession, Holley was not present on the field but present on the trainers table.

His replacement, Kalii Kunitomo, fumbled on his first carry.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Scoring update 1

2009-10-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

On the Pirates' first offensive possession, on third-and-six on the 33-yard line, Coast's quarterback Kyle Manning threw and interception to Santa Ana's Dakota Hopkins.

Manning (pictured) is 0-2 with a interception to start off the game. Ray Holley has four yards on one carry.

After converting a third-and-long with a running back screen, the Dons could not convert another third down and had to settle with Chase Lansford's 38-yard field goal.

Score is 7-3 Pirates with 8:21 left in the first quarter.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Game of the Week: Dons vs. Pirates

2009-10-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

Orange Coast College's head football coach Mike Taylor said he wanted to emphasize on special teams during this week's practice.

Coast's wide receiver Lano Fuentes must have listened to what Taylor was preaching during practice because to start off the 59th battle between Santa Ana College and OCC, Fuentes returned a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Santa Ana's Nicholas Arzate was injured on the kickoff return and was carried off the field by two Dons personnel.

Score is 7-0 Pirates with 14:47 left in the first quarter after Lucas Vaderman's extra point.

Mirror, mirror, who's the biggest enemy of them all?

2009-10-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

After starting the season 7-0 and not losing a set, the Orange Coast College women's volleyball team finally lost a set and game - largely due to compiling 15 missed serves and 13 hitting errors against Golden West College Wednesday (Oct. 7).

Coast looked poised to continue its unbeaten streak after winning the first set 22-25, but the Rustlers won the next three sets 25-23, 25-21, 29-27 to take away home court advantage from the lady Pirates at the Peterson Gym.

“I’m completely disappointed in my team’s performance, especially in game four.” Coast head coach Chuck Cutenese said. “We came out in game one and played well, then we got flat in game two and flat in game three. You know, good teams don’t lose (after leading) 24-21. We lost our focus. People couldn’t put the ball away. We weren’t swinging to win, we were swinging not to lose.”

In that fourth set, the No. 3 ranked Coast (7-1, 1-1 in Orange Empire Conference) had a 23-17 lead against the No. 10 ranked Golden West (9-2, 2-0) but the Rustlers came back with a 8-1 run of its own to make it 24-25 and eventually won the game.

Even though Coast played on its home gym, it was a pro-Rustlers crowd and the lady Pirates often seemed phased by the opposing fans' noises.

"It didn't even seem like our gym," said Coast's libero Nikki Osuna, who led her team with 24 digs. "We let (the opposing crowd) get into our heads. We let them ruin our game."

Osuna added the team's had couple bad practices this week and hoped to improve on "a lot of unforced errors." the team had Wednesday in the next few days.

"I think mentally we just shutdown as a team," said sophomore outside hitter Rachel Freeno, who played in her first game since recovering from surgery on her hitting shoulder. "We're a lot better than we played - a whole lot better. And we'll get them next time in their gym."

Freeno, who had 15 digs in the contest, said her shoulder hurt after the game and was excited to play again but added, "I played the worst game I've ever played."

Coast's sophomore Poerava Gantt led Coast with 18 kills with 14 digs, sophomore Briana Fields added 10 kills and freshman setter Kimya Jafroudi paced the offense with 42 assists.

"It wasn't our night," Gantt said.

The lady Pirates' next home match will come Friday (Oct. 16) at 6 p.m. against another high-ranked opponent, No. 4 ranked Irvine Valley College.

[Photos by Tony Lee]

"I wish we can play all our games here"

2009-10-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Orange Coast College women's soccer team got to experience playing under the LeBard Stadium lights for the first time this season.

After starting the second half with a 2-0 cushion, Coast (8-2, 4-2 in the Orange Empire Conference) squeaked-out with a 2-1 victory Tuesday (Oct. 6) as Fullerton College's last shot attempt hit the crossbar and extended the lady Pirates' winning streak to three.

"More than anything we just got to close the deal," OCC head coach Kevin Smith said. "The other team played with a lot of heart and they battled back."

The lady Pirates' opened up the scoring in the 25th minute when midfielder Chelsea Hilliard passed a ball to teammate Taryn Bales, who stayed just onside, beat her defender and scored on the Hornets' goalkeeper Briana Magana - who had two point-blank blocks already in the first half.

Bales also added an assist in the contest just 14 minutes later as teammate Kallie Ryker scored on Bales' pass.

"They've played with each other for few years now, with club soccer and now here, and they're on the same page and things are going good," Smith said.

But in the second half, the Hornets (5-4-2, 3-2-2) changed its formation to an offensive-heavy lineup and forced the lady Pirates to reorganize its defense.

In the 67th minute, Fullerton's Megan Byrum got snuck-passed Coast's defense and scored in the top-right corner to cut the lead to one.

"2-0 is a dangerous score in soccer," Hornets' coach Pam Lewin said. "Once we got one goal, we were really pressing hard to get that goal...We just played a lot better in the second half."

But Fullerton could not take advantage of the leading OEC goal scorer Kimmi Walsh - thanks to Hilliard's defense.

"Chelsea is kind of the heart of the defense as far as her intensity and her discipline," Smith said. "The leading scorer is on their team and for the most part shut her down. I think (Walsh) had one shot at goal today."

However, Smith said the team still needs to work on it's mental game to avoid a potential meltdown like Tuesday night's second half.

"We've got to maintain that high-level of concentration for 90-minutes," he said. "We seem to every game just have a little bit of a time where we lapse - where we don't get out quick as a team like we should or we don't close down and get in a little lull."

Magana finished with another point-blank deflection for a total of seven blocks. Coast's goalkeeper Alyssa Simon also finished with seven blocks.

The lady Pirates' next home match will be on Friday (Oct. 16) against Riverside Communty College at 1 p.m. at the OCC Soccer Complex.

"I wish we can play all our games here," Bales said of playing at LeBard Stadium. "I think it pumps everybody up when we play under the lights and I heard we have a good reputation. We don't lose in the stadium so I think its good luck."

[Photos by Tony Lee]

Congratulations Taryn Bales!

2009-10-10T13:39:00.001-07:00

For the first time this season, the Orange Coast College women's soccer team received a card of any color against Fullerton College Tuesday (Oct. 6).

"I'm honored to have it," said Coast freshman forward Taryn Bales (pictured in blue). "I take pride in that."

Bales, who scored the game's opening goal and assisted on the lady Pirates' second goal, was charging for the ball from the midfield late in the second half.

Fullerton's goalkeeper Brianna Magana also charged outside of her box to knock the ball the other way.

Bales and Magana collided, the referee thought it was too much contact and Bales was awarded a yellow card.

"I'm actually surprised we didn't get one earlier (in the season)," Bales said. "I think we're a very physical team."

[Photo by Tony Lee]

"It didn't even seem like it was our gym"

2009-10-08T16:31:00.001-07:00

The women's volleyball team were perfect coming into the Orange Empire Conference rival matchup against Golden West College Wednesday (Oct. 7) - unbeaten in seven consecutive swept matches.

After winning the first set 25-22, the third-ranked lady Pirates (7-1, 1-1 in the OEC) lost three-straight sets to the No. 10 ranked Rustlers (9-2, 2-0) 25-23, 25-21, 29-27.

Even though the match took place at Coast's Peterson Gym, the crowd was pro-Rustlers and, according to OCC's Nikki Osuna, "It didn't even seem like it was our gym."

Pictures and more quotes will follow soon.

Here are the game Tweets from the OCC Sports Blog's Twitter.

Battle between Orange Coast and rivals Golden West has started. The lady Pirates have the early 6-3 lead - GW serve
Golden West calls timeout...15-12 lady Pirates
Golden West takes the lead 18-19. Coast's head coach Chuck Cutenese calls timeout. #oec #volleyball
Orange Coast comes back to take the first match 25-22! #oec #volleyball
Golden West is off to a fast start in the 2nd set. 3-6 Rustlers. Lady Pirates call timeout #oec #volleyball
Lady Pirates tied it up at 11-11 but the Rustlers got the next 3 points. 11-14 timeout OCC #oec #volleyball
Golden West started the 2nd set w/ a lead, finished the set with a 23-25 lead. It's tied 1-1. #oec #volleyball
Golden West is off to another fast start. OCC head coach Chuck Cutenese is very verbal on the sidelines. 11-7 Rustlers. #oec #volleyball
Lady Pirates have tied it up! The score is 21-21 in the third set #oec #volleyball
After tying it up, the Rustlers got the next 4 points to win 21-25. GWC is up 2-1 sets. #oec #volleyball
After exchanging 5 points back and forth, Coast took a 8-5 lead. Golden West responded with 3 straight of its own. Score is tied up at 9-9
the lady Pirates on the bench are making the most noise in the whole Peterson Gym. OCC is up 18-16. #oec #volleyball
The lady Pirates are on a 7-1 run. Score is 23-18 in the 4th set. #oec #volleyball
Coast was up 23-17. Golden West went on a 8-1 run to be up 24-25 #oec #volleyball
Coast was up 23-17. Golden West went on a 8-1 run to be up 24-25 and eventually won 27-29 #oec #volleyball

Soccer sneaks-out with a victory at the stadium

2009-10-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

Under the LeBard Stadium lights, the lady Pirates soccer team snuck-out with a 2-1 victory against Fullerton College Tuesday (Oct. 6) as the last shot hit off the top crossbar.

This is the third straight win for Coast (8-2, 4-2 in OEC) and Fullerton drops to (5-4-2, 3-2-2).

Here are the game Tweets from the OCC Sports Blog's Twitter.

The women's soccer game vs. Fullerton College in the LeBard Stadium (that's right, the football stadium) is about to start!
Coast's Taryn Bales was stopped by Fullerton's goalkeeper Brianna Magana in a point-blank attempt. Score is 0-0
Coast's Kallie Ryker was stopped by Fullerton's keeper again on a breakaway and Jazmin Antunez's rebound was wide. Score is 0-0
Taryn Bales got the first goal of the game and finally broke Fullerton goalkeeper's impressive defensive stand. 1-0 lady Pirates
Fullerton's Emily Smith is attended by the trainers because she got hit on the face with a ball and is bleeding. Ouch.
Coast's Kallie Ryker scored the 2nd goal of the game. Ryker's first attempt was stopped point-blank by Fullerton's goalie. Score 2-0
Fullerton cut into Coast's 2-0 lead with a 57th minute goal by Megan Byrum's point-blank shot. Score is 2-1 #OEC
Coast wins despite Fullerton's last shot attempt hitting off the top crossbar. 2-1 lady Pirates led by Taryn Bales' goal and assist

It's Me Tony Lee: We were trained to be warriors, not injured students

2009-10-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

As an athlete, you are trained to work through the pain and push your body up to the breaking point.

But what we’ve never been trained for is how to deal with the pain after you’ve pushed your body over the breaking point.

During the fall offseason, I’ve been practicing with the golf team and working on a dramatic swing change that puts a lot of torque on my left knee.

I’ve been practicing and playing hurt because that’s how we were trained. As they say, mind over matter or whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

I was behaving a little like Orange Coast College women’s soccer player Nique Phetchanpheng, 18, but the pain she was playing through, she found out after she finished a game, was caused by a 50 percent tear of her quadriceps muscle.

“I felt a little tweak but I didn’t pay much attention to it,” she said. “I’m not the type of person that like sits out because of an injury so I just shook it off.”

That’s typical for all athletes and former Pirates starting middle linebacker Matt Henry, 20, was no different.

“Originally I didn’t even think it was broken,” Henry said of his fifth metatarsal fracture that’ll sideline him for the rest of this year. “The doc originally said two weeks (recovery) then I went to see a specialist and he said I needed surgery.”

Coast wide receiver Derek Romo’s case also shows how unpredictable injuries are.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Romo, 18, who is out for this season from tearing his MCL, ACL and meniscus when a teammate accidentally hit his knee in practice. “The worst part is I can’t play the sport I love.”

Now he and Romo are both redshirted and can only contribute by being cheerleaders on the sideline.

“It’s hard to even go to the games and watch practice because you wish you were out there helping them out,” Henry said.

Even though golf’s not a high-contact sport, it was no different for me.

I shrugged off my sore knee, even though I heard a pop, as another day of hard work and convinced I just needed to ice it down.

But when I couldn’t walk without gimping, I went to the doctor and he said I have a partially hyper-extended knee and may have a meniscus injury that might require surgery.

This was something that no coach, teacher or parent prepared me for. The thought of having a surgery that might affect how I play my sport for the rest of my life scared me to death.

But I think the thought of never playing at Coast again (knock on wood) scared me even more.

I’m going to see an orthopedic doctor today (Oct. 7) who specializes in the knee and leg to see the extent of my injury and it feels like I’m going to see the grim reaper.

I’m hoping for the best, regardless of whether I need surgery, and the next time I swing a golf club as a Pirate, I will not take a single moment for granted.

I love waking up at 5 a.m. three days a week to practice with my teammates. I love the discipline I’ve learned from being a student athlete.

But most of all, I love being a Pirate and representing Orange Coast College when I compete. The expression “You never know what you had until you lose it” has never been truer for me.

“I want to be back out there more than just sit around in the sidelines and watch,” said Phetchanpheng, who is back playing for the lady Pirates this year. “My love for the sport is my motivation to get back out there.”

EDIT
My doctor told me I'll be out 6-8 weeks with, not a meniscus injury, a MCL tear. No surgery will be required and hopefully I'll be able to start my rehab at the end of this week.

[Photo by Peter Bicknell]

...October Madness?

2009-10-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

The week of Oct. 5 through Oct. 11 will be a busy time for the Orange Coast College athletics program and the blog.

The men's soccer team takes its perfect Orange Empire Conference record to Irvine Valley College Tuesday (Oct. 6) at 3 p.m. and the women's soccer team will play Fullerton College at the LeBard Stadium, starting at 7 p.m.

That's right, there will be a soccer game in the football stadium and the OCC Sports Blog will cover the game live via Twitter and post pictures/interviews immediately after the game.

The men's record is 5-4, 2-0 in the OEC, and the women's is 7-2, 3-2 in OEC.

On Wednesday (Oct. 7), the women's volleyball team hopes to continue its perfect streak (7-0, 1-0) of not losing a single set this season against rivals Golden West College at the Peterson Gym, starting at 6 p.m. (Also another game covered on Twitter and this blog).

Also, the women's water polo team has its first home game Wednesday (Oct. 7) against Cypress College at 3 p.m.

The Coast football team suffered its first loss of the season to Fullerton College Saturday (Oct. 3) and hopes to bounce back in its home OEC opener Saturday (Oct. 10) at the LeBard Stadium.

The Pirates (4-1, 0-1) will host Santa Ana College starting at 6 p.m.

I'm going to be busy this week but, hey, this is what I live for.

It's Me, Tony Lee: I was moved by the ceremony

2009-10-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Tears were shed, laughs were shared and poignant stories were told at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday and it made me proud to be a part of the Orange Coast College athletics program.

As a student athlete and the sports editor at the school paper, it was moving to hear about an athlete who would’ve lived a different life without a coach’s suggestion, a coach who continued teaching despite his physical limitations, a faculty member who was at Coast for 46 years and an athlete that became great because of his work ethic.

I was especially moved by inductee Zoila Gomez’s story about almost going back to Mexico until OCC track and field coach Dave Fier convinced her otherwise.

Fier, who introduced Gomez at the induction ceremony, visited her at Costa Mesa High School and asked her to continue her education and running at Coast.

Gomez said that Fier called her about a million times after her graduation and eventually convinced her to come to Coast — and this became the place where she experienced her first sleep over, her first love and the value of education.

“That’s when athletics and academics got together,” Gomez said after failing English 100 the first time. “Because you are so motivated and you want to make it to the next level. But without that grade, you’re not going to make it anywhere.”

Inductee Al Irwin, on the other hand, decided to share a comical story about the person that introduced him at the induction ceremony.

“I remember saying, ‘Hey you kid, get your butt back in the pool and start working out,’” Irwin said to Dave Grant, a former present and long-time OCC veteran, when he was a student. “And now, David, I can say thank you for all the help you’ve given me down through the years.”

But inductee Jim Carnett, who is nicknamed Mr. OCC for being a part of the school for 46 years, might have shared the funniest experience at Coast.

“I said something like, ‘Well the Cerritos wrestler just got awarded the bout — if you can believe that,” Carnett said of the time he got kicked out of a game as an announcer. “Fortunately it was a pro OCC crowd. They gave me a standing ovation.”

The last inductee, Dan Quisenberry — who died in 1998 to brain cancer, was introduced by Barry Wallace, a scout for the Kansas City Royals, and his brother Marty Quisenberry.

Carnett, who knew Dan Quisenberry as a Coast athlete in 1971 to 1973, shared a moment he had with Dan Quisenberry after he retired from baseball and came back to OCC to visit him.

“I still have it,” Quisenberry said to Carnett of the feature article he wrote about him. “He said, ‘It was the best story ever written about me. Nothing in my Major League career could match it.’”

As corny as this may be to say, I imagined myself on that wall as an athlete who won a state title for Coast and came back to win more as a coach. If you’re an athlete or coach, I believe many of us want to be remembered as someone great.

This was the first Hall of Fame ceremony I’ve attended and, if others are like this one, I hope this won’t be my last because it is emotional, heartfelt and reminds us the positive effect sports has on people.

“For me, when I say the word family, that’s what I had at Orange Coast,” Gomez said. “A family within my family. I had great friends and I have no words to explain how grateful I am and still make them proud in the years to come.”

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Pirates puts to bed its perfect record

2009-10-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

The Pirate football team (4-1, 0-1 in conference) finally suffered a loss this year by losing to Orange Empire Conference rivals Fullerton College, 38-10, Saturday (Oct. 3).

Notes to take from the game is that Ray Holley, who averaged 177-yards per game this season, rushed for under 100 yards in a game (99 yards in 24 carries).

Also, starting quarterback Kyle Manning, who didn't complete over 50 percent of his passes yet this season, shared time with Ethan Whitsell Saturday and both combined for 11-of-23 passing for 108 yards and an interception.

This week's Pirate of the Week Jimmy Keating kept the strong play going and led the OCC defense with seven tackles (four solo with 1.5 tackles for loss). Kevin Borton added six tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

The Pirates hope to bounce back at home against Santa Ana College at 6 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 10).

[Photo courtesy of payplay.fm/ovipositor]

Weekend madness

2009-10-02T23:17:00.000-07:00

While most students enjoy the weekend, four Orange Coast College athletics program will be hard at work.

The men's and women's cross country teams will be at the Foothill Invitational in Chino's Prado Park, starting at 9 a.m.

Pick up the Sept. 30 issue of the Coast Report to read about the cross country teams' performances this year. The "Sports Roundup" is not available online.

The women's water polo team will be on its second day in the Cuesta Tournament. Despite a 8-19 record last year (2-4 in conference), the lady Pirates are optimistic about this season because of its sophomore returners.

The Pirates football take its perfect 4-0 record and opens the Orange Empire Conference play at Fullerton College, starting at 6 p.m.

Last year, the Pirates started off 4-0 but lost six-straight to finish 4-6.

Head coach Mike Taylor said, "(Quarterback Kyle Manning's) got to get a little better for us to have an opportunity. (Opponents) are going to load up with nine guys in the box to stop Ray Holley."

Holley leads the Pirates in rushing yards and touchdowns - 177 yards per game and 8 TDs - and is the No. 1 ranked tailback in the state.

Pirates sweep division rivals

2009-09-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

Both the men's and women's soccer programs at Orange Coast College swept division rivals Tuesday (Sept. 29), but both did it with their own style.

The lady Pirates (7-2, 3-2 in conference), led by this week's Pirate of the Week Kallie Ryker's (pictured) three goals, won in a 3-0 shutout.

Coast's Lara Tishler, Taryn Bales and Ayla Medina assisted on Ryker's goals.

On the other hand, the Pirates (4-4, 1-0 in conference), led by William Munoz's two goals, came back after trailing Santiago Canyon College by a goal early in the second half to win 2-1.

Coast's Anthony Gonzalez and Jordan Gorman assisted on Munoz's goals and goalkeeper Brian Repetto posted eight goals in the contest.

Men's team will return to action Friday (Oct. 2) at Cypress College. Following another road game at Irvine Valley on Tuesday (Oct. 6), the Pirates will host Golden West College Oct. 9. All games start at 3 p.m.

The lady Pirates will return to action on Tuesday (Oct. 6) against Fullerton, beginning at 7 p.m. at LeBard Stadium.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Hall of Fame

2009-09-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

After I attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Peterson Gym Saturday (Sept. 26), I planned to write a little something about what happened and put it on the blog.

Instead of a short blog entry, I decided I'm going to write my column, "It's Me, Tony Lee" on it and a staff writer will write about what happened there.

Check out the Sept. 30 Coast Report Wednesday to see what happened Saturday.

Click here to read about which four individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Pirates are perfect

2009-09-26T22:27:00.001-07:00

Orange Coast College football team's game plan is simple.

Give the ball to the No. 2 ranked running back in the state, Ray Holley, and take advantage of the No. 1 rushing defense that's held offenses to minus-42 yards on 70 carries.

That's what the Pirates did Saturday (Sept. 26) against Glendale College as Holley rushed for a touchdown on 27 carries for 171-yards, the defense held the Vaqueros to minus-29 yards on 34 carries and as a result, Coast wins 10-6 and is a perfect 4-0 this season.

"It was a little ugly at times, but we came back," head coach Mike Taylor said. "We had to score in the second half to win it and we ended up getting big run out of Ray. We played well when we had to play."

The ugly times Taylor described may refer to how Glendale (3-1) converted its fourth-and-20 situation to a 26-yard touchdown by Brian Williams to Steve Miller or the 10 penalties Coast was called for in the second half alone.

"Our nickel guy made a little mistake and didn’t play back," defensive coordinator Scott Orloff said of the fourth-and-20 play. "The big problem was we let the quarterback step up. We didn’t pressure him and gave him extra time. Our corner has to have that man and he got beat."

Williams, who threw the touchdown at the end of the first half, carried over the momentum to the second as he completed his first four throws.

However, the Pirates pass defense adjusted and got two interceptions off of Miller and he finished the game completing 12-of-31 for 132 yards.

The pass defense, ranked 62nd in the state averaging 244.3 yards per game coming into Saturday, held Glendale to a season-low 132 yards.

"Defense wins championships," said linebacker Jimmy Keating, who finished the game with 9 tackles (three solo), a sack and a fumble recovery. "We put it, and the coaches put it, on our shoulders and we just rised to the occasion."

Holley, again, proved why he's one of the premier backs in the state as he broke-out for a 59-yard run in the second half that gave the Pirates its only touchdown and a lead for good.

But it wasn't without a small price.

"On that last one, I think I threw up a little bit," he said.

The Pirates play in its first Orange Empire Conference game next week at Fullerton College Saturday and returns home Oct. 10 against Santa Ana College. Both games start at 6 p.m.

Q & A: Quotes from after the game

2009-09-26T22:12:00.001-07:00

Defensive player Jimmy Keating: on the improved pass defense in the second half.
(We) knew the offense wasn't getting it going too well and (we) just had to step it up. Defense wins championships. Defense wins games. We put it, and the coaches put it, on our shoulders and we just rised to the occasion.

Keating: on why the defense had so much success.
It was really easy to read. We had great schemes, we knew what they liked to do, we knew the quarterback liked to move in the backfield...It was a great game-plan the coaches came up with this week.

Head coach Mike Taylor: on what the team has been working on.
We thought our kids looked tired against Golden West at times so we ran them harder. It was hot, it wasn’t a lot of fun – you know they kind of stepped it up, rose to the occasion and put pressure on the quarterback.

Taylor: on things to work on his quarterback.
There were some passes Kyle (Manning) threw that were actually open and guys made drops or he overthrew some guys. He's got to get a little better for us to have an opportunity. (Opponents) are going to load up with nine guys in the box to stop Ray Holley.

Running back Ray Holley: on his work ethic setting him apart from the other teams' defenses.
I would like to say yes, but I don’t know how hard guys on the opposite side are working. They might be working just as hard but I feel like I have the heart and I don’t care how tired I’m going to get. I’m still going to run.

Holley: on the end of his 59-yard run that set up Coast's only touchdown.
I saw the light, got behind Chris Reihanifam and tried to go from there...On that last one, I think I threw up a little bit.

Defensive coordinator Scott Orloff: on not repeating last year's 4-0 start followed by six-straight losses.
That’s something we’re going to have to remind them. This is a whole different group of kids, especially at linebackers. You know even when we won last year, it wasn’t pretty. We weren’t doing a lot of good things (last year) but we’re doing a lot of good things (this year).

Glendale head coach and offensive cordinator John Rome: on what they need to work on.
Fundamentally, we need to get back on the drawing board offensively. We seem to lack an identity.

Rome: on OCC's defense that allowed its season-low 132 passing yards - 112 lower than its average.
Very stout. They did a great job. They played hard the whole game.

On the blog today...

2009-09-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

Four individuals involved in the Orange Coast College’s athletics program will be inducted into Coast’s Hall of Fame Saturday.

Jim Carnett, Dan Quisenberry, Zoila Gomez and Al Irwin will first be introduced in an induction ceremony in the Peterson Gym’s foyer at 4 p.m.

The inductees will also be introduced at halftime of the OCC vs. Glendale College football game at the LeBard Stadium that starts at 6 p.m.

To read more about this, click here.

The OCC Sports Blog will also cover the football game against Glendale via Twitter. After the game, a game summary, quotes from players and coaches and pictures will be uploaded onto the blog.

It's Me, Tony Lee: Budget cuts

2009-09-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

With the onset of new budget cuts, I’ve noticed that many Orange Coast College sports teams are now filled with Division-I bounce backs.

For non-sports savvy people, a bounce back is an athlete that used to play at the highest collegiate competition but now plays at a lower level.

That got me thinking. What about the student athletes who used to or were planning to play at Coast? Will there be room for them at community colleges anymore?

I’m not trying to say the level of competition or the athletes currently at OCC is poor, because that’s not true at all.

Coast athletes play in the Orange Empire Conference, which is known for its prestigious athletics competition.

What I’m trying to say is that the caliber of athletes has now gone up and they are taking roster spots away from players that used put on the Pirate uniform or jersey.

I love meeting people like last year’s athlete of the year Cassie Mitchell (pictured). Head track and field coach John Knox said when she came into Coast she wasn’t the most gifted athlete but has worked harder at her craft than anyone he’s coached.

During her time at OCC, Mitchell set the national 3,000 meter steeplechase record. Not bad for someone that wasn’t a top recruit out of high school.

Head women’s basketball coach said that last year’s all-OEC first team player Simone Ibbotson improved more than any other player to come out of his program.

There are also other athletes that came to Coast because they are recovering from an injury, didn’t get recruited in high school or just want to play their sport for a few more years before they retire as an athlete.

With the increase in the number of bounce backs, I wonder if there will be room for players like Mitchell, Ibbotson or any of the other athletes I described.

On top of that, with the budget cuts, roster sizes might have to be cut down too.

I think this will be the norm soon: Division-I caliber athletes taking over the community colleges and the coaches, assuming they want to win as many state champions as they can, will play them over the other athlete that may have the potential to be, well, Division-I athletes.

I foresee this future and I think it’s a shame. I’m sorry in advance that I won’t have a chance to write about you.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

It's Me, Tony Lee: Shorty got game

2009-09-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Size doesn’t have to matter — just ask Orange Coast College sophomore athletes Nikki Osuna (right) and Ray Holley.

“I mean I’ve always wanted to be a little bit taller but it also makes me work that much harder to prove people wrong,” said Osuna, the shortest women’s volleyball player at 5 foot 3 inches. “When I tell people I play volleyball, they’re like, ‘But you’re tiny.’”

At 5 feet 9, Holley also knows all about people commenting on his size. Even his own teammates call him Smalley.

“To me, being a little bit shorter, that hasn’t bothered me,” Holley said. “I know it makes me want to prove people wrong because they don’t expect me to hit hard.”

Just ask Santa Monica College how hard Holley hits.

Holley earned Southern Conference Player of the Week for rushing 228 yards with three touchdowns in 28 carries in the Sept. 5 season opener in just three quarters.

He also can bench press 225 pounds, 20 times. I don’t think many of can say we can bench 225 once.

“The only problem (of being shorter) is that when he walks into a room he’s not a really big, imposing figure until he takes his shirt off and you’re like, ‘Wow, he’s put together,” said head football coach Mike Taylor.

Osuna’s case is a bit different. In addition to being the shortest on the team, she also had to deal with a knee injury that red shirted her last season and missed the state championship.

But now she’s back in full strength. In her first two games this season, she’s led the lady Pirates to two victories by leading the team with 15 digs in each game.

“Me red shirting last year made me work that much harder in the offseason to prove I that I wanted to be on the court this season,” Osuna said.

Being taller may have some advantages but there are other important factors in sports, like practicing harder, spending extra time watching film and playing smarter.

“They’re usually your hardest workers,” head women’s volleyball coach Chuck Cutenese said of shorter players. “They’re always having to make up for their lack of height.”

You also can’t coach the desire to be a better player. You can’t coach the never-say-quit attitude.

And you certainly can’t coach how to defeat the stereotypes and adversity shorter athletes have to go through.

“(Players) respect him for what he is,” Taylor said of Holley (left). “He’s a good teammate, he hustles in practice (and) he hustles like a man that’s possessed in the game.”

Cutenese added one of the best qualities about Osuna is her aggressiveness, competitive personality and being a verbal leader n all things that cannot be coached.

“I feel like my voice is bigger than my body,” Osuna said.

Well, we hear you guys loud and clear when you play.

[Photo of Osuna by Tony Lee, photo of Holley courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

The most dramatic two minutes

2009-09-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

"It was pretty crazy," Orange Coast College starting quarterback Kyle Manning said to sum up the last two minutes of a 24-21 victory.

After the Pirates took a 17-7 lead with 2:33 left in the game, in just 37 seconds, Golden West College's Mike VanDeripe quickly threw a 41-yard touchdown to Matt James to get the game back to a one-possession game.

The Rustlers, with no time outs left, had to go for an onside kick.

For a moment, it looked like the Rustlers could make a comeback as they recovered the kick, but a flag was thrown for touching the ball before it passed 10 yards.

Pirates, instead of running out the clock with simple runs, called a pitch run for Ray Holley.

This resulted in a touchdown but the Pirates only took off 50 seconds - giving Golden West a chance to score and retrieve the onside kick.

"We scored too fast," Coast head coach Mike Taylor said. "We needed to run more time off the clock."

The Rustlers, once again, quickly scored - this time off of a three-yard pass to Brandon Grissom in a eight play drive that lasted only 40 seconds.

With 13 seconds left in the game, the Rustlers got the onside kick again and this time there were no flags.

First pass, incomplete. Second pass, incomplete - but one second was left on the clock and a flag on the field for roughing the passer.

Golden West, now 53-yards away from tying the game with a field goal, attempted a last-second kick, but it came well short and the Pirates won the game.

"It was a hard-fought game," Taylor said. "I’m proud of the players and coaches and we got to get ready for Glendale next week and the Hall of Fame weekend."

The West-Coast Showdown is tied up at 20-20-2 and this is the first time Orange Coast College has won the bell three times in a row.

The Pirates are now 3-0 and the Rustlers are 0-3.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Q & A: Quotes from after the game

2009-09-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

Ray Holley - of what went through his mind in the last two minutes of the game.
"Maintain possession and run the clock out. My heart wasn’t beating so I couldn’t really tell you."

Kyle Manning - on how he recovered after starting the second half 0-for-6.
"You just got to put things behind you. Whether you complete the pass or not, you got to put it behind you like it never even happened. If it comes out good, do it again. But especially the bad ones, you got to put it away."

Manning - on what it means to win the Victory Bell three times in a row
"It just shows the hard work we put through the years. The past two teams and this year, we worked really hard, played as a team and it paid off."

Head coach Mike Taylor - on the experience of the 2009 West-Coast Showdown
"It was a fun game. They’re a good football team. They’ve been scrappy in all their games and easily could’ve won that thing."

Defensive coordinator Scott Orloff - on his reaction to the last two minutes of the game.
"I was upset because a year ago, we didn’t finish defensively. We played great football for 58 minutes. I was so proud of the kids. And then we just found a way in the last two minutes not to do the things we should be doing and we gave up big plays. Happened a year ago and I just got to do a better job coaching it and making us better."

Golden West College's head coach Nick Mitchell - on what he liked and disliked from his team today.
"I was pleased the way we stayed in it at the end and continued to fight. When we were down by 10 late, we could’ve easily let it slip but we kept battling and kept it close. And I was not too happy with our mistakes. Far, far too many mistakes."

West-Coast Showdown stats/box score for OCC

2009-09-19T22:22:00.000-07:00

Orange Coast College

Rushing - Ray Holley (152 yards, 34 carries, 2 touchdowns, 4.5 average)
Brandon Estrada (13 yards, 1 carry, 0 touchdowns, 13 average)
Kevin Ivey (6 yards, 2 carries, 0 touchdowns, 3 average)

Passing - Kyle Manning (13-of-28, 158 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interception)

Receiving - Kyle Burdett (4 catches, 61 yards)
Brandon Allen (3 catches, 25 yards)
Brandon Estrada (2 catches, 19 yards)
Chris Reinhanifam (1 catch, 25 yards)
Lano Fuentes (1 catch, 16 yards, 1 touchdown)
Cordell Simmons (1 catch, 10 yards)
Anthony Vidal (1 catch, 2 yards)

Kicking - Lucas Vandeman (1-for-1: 22 yards, 3-for-3: extra points)

Punting - Jake Fields (6 punts, 38.7 average, 1 inside the 20)

Kick returns - Joe Galvez (1 attempt, -6 yards)
Anthony Curry (1 attempt, 2 yards)

Punt returns - Kevin Ivey (1 attempt, 7 yards)
Lano Fuentes (1 attempt, 6 yards)

Sacks - Bryce Brantley (2), Kevin Borton (1), Bryan Pali (1)

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Golden West 0 7 0 14 21
Orange Coast 0 7 0 17 24

Pirates win!!

2009-09-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Rustlers had an opportunity to tie the game with a last minute field goal, but the field goal was short and the Pirates win the Victory Bell - the first time OCC has won it three in a row.

Post game interviews and pictures will follow soon.

Scoring update 6

2009-09-19T20:13:00.001-07:00

Coast's Ray Holley has over 100 yards of rushing.

After going down to the five-yard line and leaving only 2:30 on the clock, Coast kicks a field goal to make it a two possession game.

Score is 17-7.

EDIT

Holley finished with two touchdowns, 152 yards on 34 carries.

Pirates take the lead!

2009-09-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

Pirates' Jake Field punted down to the two-yard line to pin-down the Rustlers in their zone.

Golden West advanced it three yards but it was another three-and-out for the Rustlers.

The Pirates returned to 48-yard line, but without Keahi Raikes' block, the Pirates were looking at starting on their 35-yard line.

Manning, who started off the half 0-for-6, led the Pirates to the end zone with two key passes

Manning hit Chris Reinhanifam for a 25 yard gain and then threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Lano Fuentes, who redeemed himself after dropping a pass in the end zone in the first half.

The extra point was good. Pirates have a 14-7 lead with 9:24 left in the game.

Scoring update 5

2009-09-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

OCC's Kyle Manning is struggling in the second half.

After having his receivers tip or drop half of his throws in the first half, Manning is 0-for-6 with an interception to start the second half.

But Manning regrouped and had four-straight completions - two to Kyle Burdett.

Golden West's Tommy Cogburn got the interception.

Coast's Bryan Pali and Kevin Borton added a sack also.

Coast starts on the Rustlers' 46-yard line to start the fourth quarter.

Score is still 7-7.

Scoring update 4

2009-09-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

Score is still at 7-7 after both teams traded possessions.

With 7:18 to go in the third quarter, The Rustlers have the ball on their 42-yard line.

Pictures from the game

2009-09-19T19:13:00.001-07:00

The Pirates make their way on the field to start the game.

It's a packed stadium on the Pirates' side.

Halftime show of honoring the past and current spirit and cheer squads.

[Photos by Tony Lee]

Halftime

2009-09-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

The score is 7-7.

The Pirates quarterback, Kyle Manning, 7 of 13 for 82 yards. Running back Ray Holley leads with 47 yards on 14 carries and Kyle Burdett leads with two catches for 36 yards.

Bryce Brantley also had two sacks in the first half.

Scoring update 3

2009-09-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

Rustlers just converted on a third and 18 on a throw to Brandon Grissom and is now on the Pirates' 35.

After a 15-yard face mask penalty by the Pirates, in the next play, the Rustlers finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown throw to Bryce Blake with 3:34 left in the first half.

Eric Torres kicked the extra point in and the score is now tied at 7-7.

Pirates score first

2009-09-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

Rustlers on the 12-yard line decided to go for it on fourth-and-two, but the Pirates stopped them in their tracks.

On the 13-yard line, Kyle Manning had a wide open Brandon Estrada and overthrew him slightly.

On the next throw, Manning connected with Estrada for a 15-yard gain and a first down to move into the scoring range.

Manning, on a play action throw, once again had a wide open receiver, but Lano Fuentes dropped a perfectly thrown ball in the end zone.

But the Pirates picked up the first down on an eight-yard pass to Brandon Allen and drew first blood in the West-Coast showdown on a 12-yard run by Ray Holley (pictured, No. 22).

Score is 7-0 with 9:23 o go in the second quarter.

The Rustlers Brandon Grissom returned it to their 40-yard line.

[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]

Scoring update 2

2009-09-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

Rustlers are getting away with its mistakes in the first quarter.

After the botched punt, in their next punting opportunity, the Rustlers only advanced it 21-yards - putting the Pirates already in field goal range.

However, one its first play, quarterback Kyle Manning had his throw tipped and intercepted by Golden West's Jodare Lewis.

The Rustlers advanced it to the Pirates' 43-yard line but once again had to punt again.

The Pirates had the ball on the 12-yard line, but it was another three-and-out.

Score is still 0-0 with 1:20 left in the first quarter.

OCC's cheer and dance team

2009-09-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

During halftime, there will be a presentation honoring Coast’s spirit squads from 1948 to 2009.

[Photos by Tony Lee]

Scoring update 1

2009-09-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

Pirates got a gift from the Rustlers.

After Coast forced Golden West to punt, the Rustler's long snapper over-shot the punter and the Pirates recovered at the 20 yard line.

After six runs and one pass, the Pirates moved down to the goal line and on fourth and one decided to go for it instead of kicking the field goal.

However, Ray Holley was stopped short of the goal line and the Rustlers regained possession.

Kickoff!

2009-09-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

Orange Coast College started the game with the ball, but it was a three-and-out for the Pirates.

Sophomore running back Ray Holley had two runs for six yards.

Golden West started on the its 41-yard line and got a first down on its first throw.

More updates will follow.

West-Coast Showdown about to start

2009-09-19T17:30:00.001-07:00

It's about 20 minutes before the Battle for the Victory Bell at Orange Coast College.

The Victory Bell was first passed between Golden West College and Coast in 1966. The historical record is 20-19, in favor of the GWC.

OCC's (2-0) magic number today is three. If they beat Golden West College, it'll be the Pirates' third win of the season and the third straight year the Victory Bell stays in their possession.

This is also the homecoming game for the Pirates.

Golden West (0-2) is hoping to win its first game of the season and reclaim the Victory Bell.

More pictures will follow. Go Pirates!

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Meet a Pirate: Danny Orona

2009-09-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

Danny Orona is a 5 foot 6 inch, 160 pound driver from Los Amigos High School and is one of the starters on the OCC men's water polo team.

“Last year, he really didn't get much playing time but he kept working in practice every single day,” head coach Monty McCord said. "He makes things happen when he's in there. He's a great defensive player (and) he's willing to do a lot of the dirty work not everyone is willing to do."

The Pirates first home game is on Oct. 21 against Fullerton College at 4 p.m.

What's your biggest pet peeve and why?
I hate when people leave early when we do our swim sets (in practice). They're pretty tough sometimes and people leave like five seconds ahead.

LeBron or Kobe - and why?
I'd probably go with Kobe because LeBron had the whole incident with the kid that dunked on him and he wanted to erase the tapes. I just thought that it was lame.

Which women's sport at OCC do you think has the hottest girls and why?
Volleyball. The way they look in those spandex shorts.

Do you have any superstitions?
Everytime I leave my house, I do the cross. I've been doing this since as long as I can remember?

If you were a rapper, what would be your name?
Well my nickname is Lil Cabron. The guys on my team gave it to me.

What's been your best experience at OCC?
Probably playing water polo. I like playing because the guys are fun, it's a tough sport and I'm not the biggest guy so it's challenging. I like the atmosphere.

Questions you want answered by athletes can be submitted to coastreportsports@gmail.com and I would add it in the hat.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Spring sports practicing

2009-09-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

It may be the fall semester, but the 10 Orange Coast College spring sports are not taking any time off.

The men's crew team (pictured) has 90 participants in its program and the women's side also has over 75 athletes.

In case you are wondering, that is a huge number of rowers for the crew program.

Head women's crew coach Laura Behr said that she had close to 60 people show up for crew last season but many of them dropped out after the first two weeks.

This year, barely any rowers dropped.

Other spring sports are packed in practice also.

The men's volleyball program expected to have over 30 athletes work out with the team last year. The number increased rather than decreased since last year.

Head softball coach Ruby Rojas, who went winless in the Orange Empire Conference last season, said this season will be completely different.

Not only is the program getting a brand new softball field (set to be completed by spring season), the program has a brand new set of recruits that Rojas is excited about.

"So excited about my JC team. It is going to be a good year this year plus with a brand new stadium," Rojas said on her Twitter page, twitter.com/rrojas8.

Winter ball for the defending state champion baseball team will start within a month also.

Men's and women's swimming - with the men's winning state last year - golf and track and field are the other spring sports at Coast.

To contact the head coaches of all the spring sports, go to the Orange Coast College's athletics section to find out contact information.

And on a personal note. Yours truly is practicing with the golf team this fall. On Monday (Sept. 14), I shot my personal best score, a six-under-par 64, during the morning practice with my teammates.

It's probably unethical to report my own success, but I just couldn't help myself.

[Photo courtesy of twitter.com/giantkillers (OCC men's crew program)]