Orange Coast College

Baseball: Wallach highlights several Pirates named to All-OEC Team

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

COSTA MESA -- Sophomore pitcher/infielder Brett Wallach was named the 2009 Orange Empire Conference Player of the Year, as voted on by the coaches of the OEC on Monday night.

In addition to Wallach's POY honor, several Orange Coast College players were selected to this year's All-OEC team, thanks to their co-conference title earned this year.

Wallach put together one of the best all-around seasons in OCC baseball history, hitting .352 with three home runs and 41 RBI -- second-best on the team. On the mound, Wallach dominated the competition, going 7-1 with a 2.18 ERA and 90 strikeouts over 82 2/3 innings. In the OEC, Wallach was even more dominant, going 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA (best in OEC), two saves and 67 strikeouts in 58 innings.

Sophomore righty Brett Williams, earned Relief Pitcher of the Year after going 2-1 in conference with a 1.60 ERA (second-best in OEC), three saves and 20 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings. For the season, Williams has been the anchor of the Pirate bullpen, posting a 4-2 record, four saves and a 2.01 ERA.

Despite missing a third of the OEC schedule, head coach John Altobelli was named Tri-Coach of the Year, along with fellow conference-winning coaches Scott Pickler of Cypress and Don Snedden of Santa Ana.

First-team, All-OEC honors for the Pirates include sophomore third baseman Drew Hillman and sophomore shortstop Beck Wheeler.

Hillman became a two-time, first-team selection this year after hitting .369 with a team-best 10 home runs and 42 RBI. A mainstay in the heart of the batting order, Hillman's 19 doubles is tied for the all-time, single-season record at OCC (Reggie Montgomery, 1981). In conference, Hillman batted .320 with six home runs and 21 RBI.

Wheeler, a transfer from the University of the Pacific, batted .357 with one home run and 22 RBI. His 51 hits are second-most on the team and his .375 batting average in conference led the Pirates this year.

A pair of starting pitchers earned second-team honors for the Pirates -- freshman righty Calvin Drummond and sophomore righty Chris Licon.

Drummond led the Pirates in wins and finished the regular season 8-5 with a 4.48 ERA. He finished third on the staff in innings pitched (72 1/3) and was second on the team in strikeouts (56). In the OEC, Drummond went 5-3 with a 4.41 ERA.

Licon battled his way to a 7-2 record this year with a 3.21 ERA. His 75 2/3 innings was second-most on the team and he posted the team's lone complete game with a nine-inning, 5-1 win against Saddleback on March 21. In conference, Licon finished fourth among all pitchers with a 2.70 ERA, going 3-1 in six starts.

Joining the pitchers on the second team include sophomore catcher D.J. Arellano and sophomore outfielder Ryan Sheeks.

Arellano became the team's leader following the untimely death of redshirt catcher Jourdan Watanabe and batted .313 while playing in 39 of Coast's 42 games (35 starts). In addition to his 20 RBI and 41 hits, Arellano helped guide the OCC pitching staff on the field to the lowest team ERA in the conference (3.07).

Sheeks, a projected utility outfielder heading into the regular season, became a mainstay at the top of the Pirates' lineup from the opening pitch. He finished the regular season with a .354 batting average with 56 hits, 21 extra-base hits and 27 RBI. In conference, Sheeks maintained a steady pace, hitting .371 with 36 hits, 21 runs scored and 13 RBI from the leadoff spot.

OCC (29-13) will open Southern California Regional playoff action on Friday at home at 2 p.m. against an opponent to be determined.