COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : McConathy’s Single Gives Cypress 11-Inning Victory

Doug McConathy had a bases-loaded single to drive in Jason Bates in the 11th inning and give Cypress a 9-8 victory over Riverside Thursday in an Orange Empire Conference game at Cypress.

Bates had a sacrifice fly to drive in Eric Nygard with the tying run to cap a three-run ninth for Cypress. The victory moves Cypress (22-10, 9-7 in conference) into second place, 3 1/2 games behind Rancho Santiago.

McConathy had a single, double, triple, drove in four runs and scored two more. Sean Drinkwater had two hits and scored twice for Cypress. Carlos Castillo (6-2) pitched six innings of relief for the victory. Riverside is 24-10, 8-7.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Rancho Santiago 11, Saddleback 7--Raul Rodarte had three hits and three RBIs for host Rancho Santiago (30-6, 11-3). It marks the third time in four seasons the Dons have had at least 30 victories. David Goldstein (6-1) pitched seven innings for the victory, and J.J. Thobe picked up his sixth save to tie the school single-season record set last season by Scott McCorgary.

Buster Nietzke had two hits for Saddleback and moved into second place on the college’s all-time list with 96. Saddleback is 12-18, 4-12.

Orange Coast 6, Golden West 2--Chad Rolish (6-2) pitched an eight-hitter for visiting Orange Coast (22-12-1, 7-9). Dan Redington had two hits and three RBIs for the Pirates.

Greg Fife and Mike Burns had three hits each for OCC. Jason White had two hits and scored a run for Golden West (12-15, 7-8). Jeff Henderson (2-6) pitched 6 1/3 innings and took the loss.

In Orange Empire Conference softball:

Golden West 1, Cypress 0 (8 innings)--Jyll Suraci had a one-out, bases-loaded single in the eighth for host Golden West (13-12, 6-5). Pam Fogg (7-6) gave up four hits in eight innings and retired the last 13 batters in the victory.