Orange Coast College

Baseball: Pirates' struggles continue with 11-5 loss to Cypress

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

CYPRESS -- If anyone sees the sprinklers on full-blast in the middle of the night on the Orange Coast College baseball field, don't be alarmed. They're just looking for a rainout, much like in the 1980's movie classic, "Bull Durham".

However, with Crash Davis nowhere in sight, it will have to be up to the Pirates themselves to figure it out following Tuesday's 11-5 loss to Cypress, their fifth straight Orange Empire Conference setback after winning their previous 10 OEC games.

"Sometimes when things are tough, players try too hard and that's what we're doing right now," OCC head coach John Altobelli said. "We're a very uptight group right now and that includes the players and the coaches. I think if we can just relax a bit and get back to the way we were playing before, we'll be fine. We've shown that we can play winning baseball in the past and I believe that this group can show that again."

Drew Hillman clubbed a two-run home run for the Pirates (26-12-1, 10-6 in the OEC), while Cory Olson added a solo blast for his team-leading eighth home run of the season. Austin Elliott added a pair of hits and two runs scored for Coast.

OCC remains in a tie for second place in OEC standings following Irvine Valley's 9-8 loss to conference kingpin Santa Ana. Cypress (24-14, 9-7) is now just a game behind the Pirates and Lasers in the standings.

Game 3 between the Pirates and Chargers will take place on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at OCC.