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Dons Rally To Stay In First; Sneddon Nears 800 Wins
SANTA ANA, CA - Top-ranked Santa Ana College (26-7-1, 13-4-1) remained in first place in the Orange Empire Conference standings by scoring eight unanswered runs to down visiting Fullerton College, 10-5, Tuesday. The Dons stayed one game ahead of Orange Coast College (21-13-1, 12-5-1 OEC) who nipped district-rival Golden West College, 3-2.
Tuesday's win not only kept Santa Ana in first place, but moved head coach Don Sneddon to within in one victory of career win 800.
In his 24 years as a head coach, all at Santa Ana College, Sneddon has amassed an overall record of 799-273-3 (.744) while guiding the Dons to three state baseball titles and 10 OEC championships. He has also coached his teams to 30 or more wins in a season 17 times, 40 or more wins in a season five times with a school record 42 wins in 1995 when Santa Ana captured its second state title with a 42-9 mark. Only former Sacramento City College head baseball coach Jerry Weinstein (831-208-12) has enjoyed more success at the California community college level.
On Thursday (April 28), Sneddon will attempt to become just the second California community college baseball coach to win 800 games in his career when the Dons travel to Fullerton College on Thursday, April 28 to face the Hornets in another key OEC contest set to start at 2:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Santa Ana erased a 5-2 deficit with six runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to win its 10th of 11 OEC games. The Dons used six consecutive hits in the seventh to score six times and take a 8-5 lead. Jacob Vasquez, who was 3 for 3 with 5 RBI, and C.J. Rice each had key two-run home runs in the stanza. Vasquez tied the game, 5-5, with his blast to left center while Rice closed the inning with his shot onto the college's tennis courts in right.
Vasquez gave the Dons a pair of insurance runs in the eighth with his second two-run home run of the game, a shot deep to right. He drove his his fifth run earlier on the game on a sacrifice fly to left.
Elliott Tyson (3-1) picked up the win in relief of starter Paul Canedo. Tyson, who was the beneficiary of the Dons' six-run seventh, allowed two runs on four hits in two-and-a-third innings of work while striking out one. Matthew Freeman and Anthony Slama combined for two scoreless innings to secure the win.
On Deck: Santa Ana College (26-7-1, 13-4-1 OEC) at Fullerton College
(20-13, 8-10 OEC), Thursday, April 28, 2:30 p.m.. Santa Ana leads season series, 2-0.
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