You can run, but you can’t hide!

Ahhhh, Spring Break. The “seventh inning stretch” of our school

sports calendar. A great time to stretch our legs, crack the ol’ back and

take a peek around the country as to what’s happening with our local

athletes.

Leading things off is Iowa State senior infielder Joe Urban. After a

quiet junior season, the Newport Harbor High grad has his offensive

numbers on the right track.

This year Urban has in started 25 games and is hitting .241 with 14

RBIs. Last year, Urban compiled a .227 batting average with three home

runs and 23 RBIs.

Those numbers are rapidly on the rise after Urban’s four-game hitting

tear. In that span, Urban was 9 for 17 with five runs scored and six

RBIs. The Cyclones (11-18-1) won all four games during that span.

A little closer to home, Concordia University’s Charles Chatman is

looking to wrap up his Eagles’ career with a bang. The Costa Mesa High

standout is hitting .318 with a team-leading six home runs and 29 RBIs.

His 26 stolen bases have helped pave the way for his team-leading 35 runs

scored.

Chatman is coming of a monster 2000 campaign, where he led the Golden

State Athletic Conference with 15 home runs, 23 stolen bases and six

triples. He also ranked in the top five with 73 hits (2nd), 59 runs

scored (2nd) and 52 RBIs (4th).

Still even closer to home, two former local prep golfers stayed local

and have helped Orange Coast College remain a force to be reckoned with

in the Orange Empire Conference.

Jake Allanach (Newport Harbor) and Lou Carrasco (Costa Mesa) have

helped the Pirates to a 16-6 record, 9-6 in conference.

Carrasco leads the Bucs in pars per round (10.8), fewest puts per

round (29.8) and ups & downs at 56% (56 out of 100).

Allanach leads the Pirates in sand saves (7 of 14), he’s tied with

Mike Akahoshi with 14 birdies, second in ups & downs at 50% (66 out of

132).

On the running side of things, if Princeton University sophomore Bruce

Hancock (Costa Mesa) makes as much of an impact this year as he did as a

freshman, the Tigers will be in excellent shape for the future.

Last year, Hancock was a member of the record-setting freshman 4 x

800-meter relay team that clocked in with a 7:48.60 at the New Year’s

Invitational.

Also last year, Hancock was the winner of the Babb Memorial Award,

presented to the outstanding freshman contributor to the track team.

On the women’s side, Liz Morse (Corona del Mar) hit the Princeton

ground running. the freshman indoor standout won the 800 at the Princeton

Invitational on Feb. 17 with a 2:14.77. Eight days later, she put

together a strong performance at the Indoor Heptagonals, placing fifth in

the 400 with a 58.22.

On the other side of the country, Stanford freshman Billy Clayton

(Newport Harbor) gives the Cardinal a bright future in men’s volleyball.

Clayton is fifth on the team with 93 kills and is only one off the

team lead in service aces with 19. He also has 38 blocks and 24 digs.