Baseball: Murphy signs with Royals

COSTA MESA - Former Orange Coast College shortstop Donnie Murphy,

who helped lead the Pirates’ baseball team to a 32-14 record and the

Super Regional this past season, signed with the Kansas City Royals

Sunday and left to play for the Class A Spokane Indians, said his father

Jerry, who dropped his son off at the airport Tuesday morning.

Murphy, selected in the fifth round by the Royals, 138th overall, was

a first-team All-Orange Empire Conference selection and OCC’s Male

Athlete of the Year. He amassed 82 hits to break the school single-season

record of 75. He also posted a .425 batting average, including 13 home

runs and 46 RBIs. Murphy committed just four errors in 23 conference

games.

“I was extremely happy for him,” OCC Coach John Altobelli said after

Murphy was drafted June 4. “It’s really special to have had someone like

Donnie Murphy at Orange Coast. I feel sorry for the guy who plays

shortstop next year because he has some big shoes to fill.”

In addition, Altobelli announced Chris Sinner, an outfielder, will

play for Gonzaga next season.