BASEBALL: THREE HORNETS MAKE ALL-OEC
FC pitcher Dylan Prohoroff, 1B Oscar Heredia, and 2B Laine Huffman were honored this week as the 2015 All-Orange Empire Conference Team was announced, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
Prohoroff earned 1st All-OEC throwing 90.1 innings with a 2.09 ERA. He won 9 games and lost 3 totaling 82 strikeouts, 27 walks, and had 3 complete games.
Heredia was solid at first base for the Hornets with a .992 fielding percentage. He batted .351, had 23 RBI, and 17 runs during the regular season.
Huffman led the team in hits with 45 on the season. He racked up 27 runs, with 17 RBI, and had 6 stolen bases.
The Rustlers and Chargers earned a combined 11 first-team selections, including Co-Players of the Year Jackson Willeford of Cypress and Chris Williams of Golden West. Willeford – a sophomore infielder from Ramona HS -- batted .413 in conference play with 31 hits, 20 runs, three home runs and 14 RBI, while Williams – a 6-foot catcher out of Long Beach Wilson HS -- batted .372 with 32 hits, 19 runs, 10 doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI.
In a close race for the top spot, freshman reliever Josh Gogue was named the OEC Pitcher of the Year. Gogue (5-10 freshman, Cypress HS) went 5-0 with four saves and a 1.60 ERA in 10 OEC appearances, accounting for nine of GWC's 15 conference wins. He allowed just six earned runs in 33 2/3 innings with 10 walks and 28 strikeouts.
For Villarreal, this is his second Coach of the Year award, earning his first COY honor in 2004.
It will be a busy playoff stretch for the majority of those who earned all-conference honors as seven OEC teams will be competing in postseason competition, which kicks off on Friday at 2:00 pm.
2015 ALL-ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE TEAM
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Jackson Willeford, Cypress (6-0, 180, So.); Chris Williams, Golden West (6-1, 205, Fr.)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Josh Gogue, Golden West (5-10, 190, Fr.)
COACHES OF THE YEAR: Bert Villarreal, Golden West
FIRST TEAM
STARTING PITCHERS
Austin Sodders Riverside 6-4 190 So
Dylan Prohoroff Fullerton 6-3 205 So
Jarret Vermillon Cypress 6-4 235 So
Justin Zielinski Irvine Valley 6-0 175 So
Art Vidrio Orange Coast 5-11 175 So
RELIEF PITCHER
Dominic Purpura Orange Coast 6-4 210 So
CATCHERS
John Santospago Cypress 5-10 190 Fr
FIRST BASEMAN
Jordan Lucio Golden West 6-2 195 so
Oscar Heredia Fullerton 6-2 210 So
INFIELDERS
Dillon Persinger Golden West 5-11 190 Fr
Jack Flansburg Cypress 6-0 170 So
Brody Weiss Riverside 6-2 185 Fr
Jeff Nellis Orange Coast 5-10 175 So
OUTFIELDERS
Tommy Bell Orange Coast 6-3 200 So
Logan Griffin Riverside 6-1 170 So
Kyle Stahl Golden West 5-11 165 So
Aaron Case Cypress 5-9 155 Fr
DESIGNATED HITTER
Gianni Castillo Golden West 6-1 195 Fr
Garrett Dean Riverside 5-9 200 So
UTILITY
David Schuknecht Riverside 6-2 225 So
Brett Barker Saddleback 6-0 185 So
SECOND TEAM
STARTING PITCHERS
Nathan Kuchta Cypress 5-10 160 So
Ryan Abady Irvine Valley 5-11 170 Fr
RELIEF PITCHERS
Trevor Charpie Saddleback 6-1 190 So
CATCHER
Jack Kruger Orange Coast 6-2 205 So
FIRST BASEMAN
Tyler Gnesda Cypress 5-10 205 So
Israel Fuentes Riverside 6-3 230 Fr
INFIELDERS
Laine Huffman Fullerton 5-10 155 Fr
Colby Schultz Saddleback 5-11 165 Fr
Nick Grimes Orange Coast 5-10 175 Fr
Anthony Ayala Riverside 6-1 180 So
OUTFIELDERS
Cameron Baranek Santa Ana 5-10 185 So
Nestor Linares Santa Ana 5-11 165 So
Chris Prescott Orange Coast 6-1 180 Fr
James Stea Golden West 5-11 175 So
UTILITY
Brandon Brintz Cypress 5-10 165 So