The Orange Coast College Pirates should've saved some runs from Friday's 15-1 victory.

Coast, in a 10-inning thriller, beat Ventura College 1-0 thanks to pitcher Chris Licon's (pictured) performance and one big swing from Scott Hong.

According to the press release by OCC Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli, "With the win, second-seeded OCC (31-13) will host next week's Southern California Super Regional Playoffs, which begin on Friday at noon. The Pirates will play Friday's second game, which will begin at 4 p.m. against an opponent to be determined."

[Click here to read about game two and how the other teams in the playoffs played]

Congratulations Coast. You're one step closer to the state championships.

[Photo by Melissa Lee]

My lucky shoes are now 8-1. I can't believe I didn't think about this until half the semester went by.

[Click here to read my sports column "It's Me, Tony Lee" to read about why I started wearing these shoes.]

With an overall record to 13-17 with only two weeks of school left to go, I plan on attending as many events as possible to get my record up to .500.

Game one is in the books and the Orange Coast College Pirates looks like the No. 1 ranked baseball team again.

When I talked to starting pitcher Brett Wallach about winning the Orange Empire Conference player of the year, he said he's never won an award like that and worked hard on his game this year.

One of the things he's worked on is how he handles himself after he throws a mediocre pitch.

"I mean that stuff doesn't really bother me anymore," Wallach said of the first pitch of the game that almost went over the fence. "I kind of let that stuff go. I mean it's just one pitch."

Wallach also bats cleanup for the Pirates and will be asked to do a lot during the playoffs. I hope he'll rise to the occasion and his fellow teammates can vibe off of that.

I also talked to interim head coach Bob Flint about the funk the team was in. He's told me before that in whatever sport and in whatever skill level it's in, offense will be inconsistent but defense is consistent.

"It's the nature of offense," Flint said. "It's here and it goes away - it comes and goes. Today it was there."

Since head coach John Altobelli can't be at the games, he's found creative ways to get game updates. It used to be his wife Keri text messaging him but now there's a live world wide web feed that he can look at.

"At least I got a visual. I got to write notes - things we did good, things we did bad," Altobelli said. "It wasn't too too bad but still painful but I guess I'm paying my price."

Some of his notes included a play between Ryan Sheeks and Drew Hillman. He said the team does that drill maybe once every two weeks but he wanted to reiterate to the team that every drill means something because it could be the difference in a one run game.

He also talke about the depth of his roster and also two out clutch hits - especially from Ricky Stokes.

"Not having him early in the year, we really missed his bat and his leadership," Altobelli said. "Boy he went through some hard times when he came back,he kept his chin up...That's why you're a good team. Good players and good teams push each other."

[Photo of posters that Alexis and Alyssa Altobelli made for the team - photo by Tony Lee]

You had a pretty good day at the plate today. What was going well for you?
I was seeing the ball pretty good – I got some runners on early and did my job to get some Pirates in. But we all hit the ball hard today.

You guys won pretty big game today – good hitting good pitching. Are you guys out of your funk?
Yeah we were in a funk in the last couple games but we’re back. Everybody’s putting the ball into play, a lot of clutch hits. We’ve been hitting well with two outs and hopefully it’ll carry on and keep on going.

Head coach John Altobelli is definitely gone for the playoffs now. Are you guys doing anything differently?
Well we lost him but we also lost J-Wat (Jourdan Watanabe) at the beginning of the season so we always have them in our hearts. We’re playing for Alto and J-Wat and everybody out there supporting Orange Coast.

Anything else you want to add about today?
Great day for Orange Coast and happy birthday Alto.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Orange Coast College's Kris Martin hit his first home run of the season on Friday to help the Pirates win 15-1 against Ventura College.

But Martin told me that this wasn't just his first home run of the season, it was also his first home run of his life.

"You know what, I have so much emotions going through me," Martin said. "I went in there with a clear mind state and he threw me a fastball and I jumped on it."

Martin, who came in the game as a pinch hitter, said even though he doesn't start, he's ready to contribute when he gets the chance.

Once again, congratulations Kris.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Your Orange Coast College baseball team wins the first playoff game against Ventura College 15-1.

Winning pitcher for Coast is Brett Wallach (8-1) and the losing pitcher for Ventura is Blair Walters (5-4).

The men will play again tomorrow starting at 11 a.m. If Coast loses the 11 a.m. game, a tie-breaker game will follow immediately afterward.

The Orange Empire Conference Player of the Year Brett Wallach (right) proves again why he deserves that title.

After a bloop-single by Mykal Stokes and a hit-and-run single by Drew Hillman to start off the bottom of the seventh, Wallach stepped up to the plate hoping to increase his lead.

Wallach hit a bases-clearing triple over Ventura's center fielder to increase the Pirates lead to 7.

Ventura made a pitching change afterward that brought in Anthony Martinez. Pitcher Brian Walters moved to first base.

Coast's Beck Wheeler hit a hard grounder to Ventura's third baseman Trevor Duffy but a great defensive play kept Wallach at third.

Then Ricky Stokes came through for the Pirates again by singling through Duffy and Ricky later scored on a single by Scott Hong.

Hong also sored on a two-out single by D.J. Arellano.

The score is now 1-10, OCC's favor.

UPDATE

Sheeks came up to for the second time and singled again. He and Arellano was brought in by a bases-clearing double by Mykal Stokes.

Ventura made another pitching change after that. Max Javante came in for Martinez.

Hillman (left) took advantage of the pitching change immediately and homered on the second pitch over the 380 mark on the left field wall.

After two more batters advanced, Ricky Stokes ended the inning on a lineout to the second base.

All in all, it was a nine-run seventh inning on ten hits for OCC.

The score is now 1-14.

[Wallach photo by Hank Schellingerhout]
[Hillman photo by Tony Lee]

Sorry for the lack of scoring updates - I took some time to take pictures and interview people.

Coast's Brett Wallach has settled down and gave up no more runs up to the fifth inning. Wallach was in a jam in the top of the fourth having runners on first and third base with two outs but got out of the jam.

Ventura's Blair Walters (right) however gave up two more runs since the first inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Pirates threatened wih runners on first and second. D.J. Arellano, who was on second, missed the double-steal signal and was called out.

Then Coast's Mykal Stokes hit a ball in the infield but it was misjudged by Ventura. Sheeks hustled from second base and scored on a close play at home.

In the bottom of the fifth, Ricky Stokes hit a solo home run over the left field wall with two outs to add another tally on the board.

The score is 1-5 in favor of Coast.

UPDATE

Walters pitched a very good sixth inning - two strikeouts in around 10 pitches.

Coast's Ryan Dunn popped out shortstop and D.J. Arellano and Ryan Sheeks struck out in four pitches each.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Tell me aboutyour last name, Schellingerhout.
It’s Dutch. I actually immigrated from Holland when I was 6-years-old.

How many people actually pronounce it right or spell it right?
Not too many but they try ad get close. It’s something I’ve grown used to.

How did you get into photography?
I guess when I was in (Fountain Valley) High School. I took a photo class, had a camera and eventually got into the year book staff in high school and then I started shooting a lot of sports for the year book and the coaches asked for pictures. I kept shooting for them even after high school, baseball, football and I still shoot for their girls basketball team for 26 years now.

What’s your favorite sport to shoot?
It changes. It used to be volleyball. At one point the coach asked me to bring lights in and it really got interesting; the coach was very enthusiastic so we got some really good pictures. Basketball’s fun. I like shooting soccer because I coach AYSO soccer. The least favorite is baseball because it’s hard to follow the ball. You don’t know where the balls going to go next – it’s challenging.

Besides photography, what do you like to do?
Watch sports – I mean I love to watch any types of sports. I like coaching soccer and going out to sporting events.

Besides sports, what else do you like to shoot?
Sports is my favorite. I shoot all the other things that goes on campus – events, dramas, symphonies and the meet-and-greets with all the famous people.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

The Orange Coast College Pirates have taken the lead in the bottom of the third thanks to third baseman Drew Hillman and first baseman Ricky Stokes (right).

Ryan Sheeks started off the inning with a infield single and later advanced to second of a steal.

After a popout to left field by Mykal Stokes, All second-OEC player Drew Hillman drove in Sheeks with a deep single to center field.

Coast's Brett Wallach then walked which set up the stage for Stokes - who drove both runners in with a bases-clearing double.

Both pitchers calmed down in the second inning and didn't give up another run.

The score is now 1-3 in favor of OCC.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Ventura College got off to a fast start against the Orange Empire Conference player of the year Brett Wallach.

Ventura's leadoff hitter Garrett Rau laced a double over center fielder Mykal Stokes on the first pitch to start off the game.

After a sacrifice bunt by Collin LaVoie, right fielder AJ Gallardo singled up the middle for the first RBI and run of the game. Another single up the midde followed Gallardo.

Then, Ventura decided to try a double steal but a good throw by OCC catcher DJ Arellano got the runner out on third.

Wallach needed only two more pitches after that to strik out Reynaldo Garcia to end the inning.

The score is 1-0 in favor of Ventura.