From coast to coast...

Tony Altobelli

Now that April has arrived, it’s officially time to turn our

attention to the world of baseball.

Some former locals are really making a name for themselves all over

the country, both near and far. Here’s just a few of the many.

Making a strong comeback from a poor 2000 showing is former Orange

Coast College pitcher Mike Carey, who now throws from Chapman University.

After a 2-9 record with the Pirates as a sophomore last year, Carey

has come full circle as the Panther’s No. 1 starter.

This year, Carey is 6-1 with four complete games and a 2.08 ERA. In 60

2/3 innings, Carey has walked a Greg Maddux-like eight batters, while

striking out 38.

Joining Carey in Panther Country is another former OCCer, Jamie Brown.

Brown, a crafty left-hander who pitches off a prosthetic right leg,

has been a strong set-up man for the Panthers.

Another former Pirate now making a name for himself in the four-year

schools is UC Riverside center fielder Brian Wahlbrink.

After missing most of last season for OCC with a broken arm, Wahlbrink

has shown he’s 100% for the Highlanders.

Wahlbrink is currently hitting .301 (32 for 97) with two home runs and

13 RBIs. He’s scored 18 runs for UCR and he leads the team with nine

stolen bases.

Out in “sin city” Jason Reuss has taken his huge swing from OCC to

UNLV.

Reuss is hitting a solid .324 for the Rebels as both a right fielder

and designated hitter. The junior has three home runs and 13 RBIs to go

along with his five doubles and 14 runs scored.

Heading further east, former Newport Harbor High standout catcher

Charlie Waite is making a name for himself at the University of

Mississippi.

As the No. 2 catcher for Ole Miss, Waite has put up a respectable .286

batting average and is making a strong push to be the Rebels’ full-time

starting catcher next season.

As a relief pitcher and spot starter, Wake Forest hurler Ryan Lewis

(Corona del Mar) has posted a 2-1 record with a 7.53 ERA for the Demon

Deacons.

Lewis had a strong role in the Deacons’ bullpen last year, coming over

from Providence University after the Friars dropped their baseball

program in 1999.

Starting in the Princeton University outfield is Corona del Mar grad

Ryan Achterberg. Despite a slow start at the plate (.209 batting

average), Achterberg has been a smooth and steady glove for 14 starts in

the Tigers’ outfield.

Former CdM standouts Ty Harper and Eric Wiethorn are paying their dues

for their respective Division I schools.

Harper, a sophomore for the University of Alabama, as two hits in 20

at-bats coming off the bench, while Wiethorn, a sophomore at Louisiana

State University, is 1 for 5 for the Tigers this season.

Another former local making an impact at the Division I level is Long

Beach State University junior Ryan Clark.

The former OCC first baseman has played in 18 of 29 games for the

49ers and is hitting .263 with two doubles, a triple and nine RBIs.

On a much different note, the Rocky Mountain High altitude apparently

has had little effect on former OCC standout runner, Zoila Gomez.

Gomez, a junior at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., was an

All-American selection for the Grizzlies.

Gomez, a three-time state champion in her two seasons at OCC, placed

fifth at the National Championships in Boston with a 5K time of 16:51.19.

The Costa Mesa High grad also claimed the Rocky Mountain Athletic

Conference championship in the 5K and placed second in the 3K.

After starting the season with a very unfavorable schedule, the

Vanguard University men’s tennis team is now tougher and much more

experienced heading into the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament as well as the

Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament and NAIA Championships.

The Lions (10-9, 3-3 in conference) have returning players Peter

Skrzeczynski, Josef Stromberg and Joakim Ulfvebrand leading the charge.

All three were on last year’s Vanguard squad which reached the NAIA Sweet

16 a year ago.