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
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Wednesday, November 04, 2009
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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]
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]
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.”
“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'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.
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.
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]
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
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
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.
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]
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]
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]
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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]
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.
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.
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