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]

The OCC track and field team got off to a good start over the weekend for the Orange Empire Conference Championships.

Women team rankings (after six events)
1) Orange Coast College - 102
2) Riverside Community College - 87
3) Golden West College - 20

Men's team rankings (after six events)
1) Riverside Community College - 92
2) Orange Coast College -55
3) Saddleback College - 40

Coast's Cassie Mitchell won the 10,000 meter run with a time of 38:42.86 followed by three teammates Kristen Simek (38:43.42), Margaret McDuffee (39:19.40) and Hilary Labelle (39.56.11). [Click here to read about Mitchell who is ranked No. 1 in the US in the 3,000-meter steeplechase]

Coast's Audrey Crouse, this week's Pirate of the Week, won the women's pole vault clearing 11 feet, 6 inches. This tied a school and OEC record. [Click here to read her Q & A session from earlier this year] [Click here to read her Pirate of the Week]

In the women's javelin, OCC finished behind Riverside standout Karee Nordby's 38.53 meters throw. Lady Pirates Danielle Morton (second, 36.07 meters), Liana Fuentes (third, 33.84 meters) and Bri Vanderwal (fourth, 33.22 meters) followed Nordby. [Click here to read about Fuentes and Vanderwal qualifying for state as heptathletes]

Coast's Russell Westphal finished second in the men's 10,000 meter run (33:06.46) by four seconds to Mat Van Dyke of Saddleback.

OCC's Regan Grego also finished second in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (10:12.35).

Eric Grunbaum, former Pirate of the Week, won the men's shot put with a 15.37 meter launch.

In the men's javelin, Coast finished behind Saddleback's Ray Lian's 59.19 meter throw. Stephen Ruby (58.66 meters) and Brian Norton (50.36 meters) got second and third.

Good luck on Friday at the OEC Championships.

The men's tennis team missed the playoffs by a narrow margin but is doing well as individuals.

OCC is ranked No. 9 and only eight teams make it onto the postseason play as a team.

When I talked to Chris Ketcham, head coach of the men's squad, he seemed disappointed the team didn't have the opportunity for the championship. He even hinted that if the men made it, the team would've had a good shot to do well in the playoffs.

But that doesn't mean the season is over for Ketcham's crew. The Pirates can still win playing as an individual or as a doubles pair.

Over the weekend, Coast's No. 1 and No. 2 singles players Laurent Minguez and Brad Fisher qualified for the next round.

Minguez won his two matches 6-2, 6-3 and 6-0, 6-0. Fisher went 6-3, 6-1 and 6-4, 6-1.

The most impressive feat is all three of the OCC doubles tandems qualified for the next round.

Ketcham said because of the seeding, Coast's No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams only had to play one match each.

The No. 1 doubles pair of Miguez and Felix Demiro came through with a 6-0, 6-3 win and the No. 2 doubles team of Fisher and Yannik Lepage won in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

Coast's No. 3 team of Brian Nguyen and Kevin Saenz had to play two teams and won both - including the No. 1 doubles team of Saddleback College.

In the frst match, Nguyen/Saenz won easily 6-4, 6-0 and then pulled of the upset with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory.

Minguez is also this week's Pirate of the Week. [Click here to read about him]

Congratulations guys. It's great to see players rising up to new levels during the postseason.

I talked to Orange Coast College's women’s head coach Janice Maran and men’s head coach Chris Ketcham today and they both talked about the players’ health and stamina.

The lady Pirates played without the team’s No. 1 player Brittany Bass and No. 3 player Kalin Eshelman (this week's Pirate of the Week) Thursday due to injuries. Maran tentatively said both players may return next week.

Maran added this match was important for the lady Pirates because it showed the women that every point, game and match is crucial and important.

Ketcham said he was glad the men’s matches ended early because he wanted his players fresh for Friday’s home match against Mt. San Jacinto College.

He also seemed to worry about the injury-bug on the women’s team carrying over to his squad.

All the teams at OCC are in the middle of its season. I hope, knock-on-wood, all the teams will stay healthy for the rest of the year.