Pirates keep on rolling

COSTA MESA — Displaying a blend of strong pitching, contagious hitting and a surprising find at closer, the unbeaten Orange Coast College baseball team has proved to be one step ahead of the opposition.

Now, if the close-knit band of Pirates can only remain a step ahead of themselves, they might just have something special this season.

Sophomore third baseman Wes Kartch, who like most Pirates is off to a hot start with the bat this season, watched Wednesday’s 8-6 nonconference win over visiting Long Beach City College with an orthopedic boot on his right foot, the product of some ill-fated fun during a team workout earlier this week.

Kartch, running with his teammates in practice, was tripped from behind by a Pirate aiming to lighten the mood. The result was a high ankle sprain that will sideline the 2007 second-team All-Orange Empire Conference selection indefinitely.

Still, OCC (3-0-1) seemed willing and able to overcome the injury to its leadoff hitter, as freshman Ryan Sheeks stepped into the leadoff spot and went three for five with two runs scored.

“[Kartch’s] injury was kids being kids,” OCC Coach John Altobelli said. “But it allows a guy like Ryan Sheeks to step in and he was very impressive. [Sheeks] hadn’t swung the bat all weekend and he stepped in and had a great day.”

Sheeks was one of six OCC hitters who had at least two hits against five Vikings hurlers, beginning with starter Keith Chipman, who was charged with six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Sophomore Kyle Muhlsteff was also three for five with two RBIs and one run, while sophomore center fielder Cory Olson led four Pirates with two hits, going two for three with two RBIs and two runs, including his first home run of the season.

Olson, who led the Pirates in hitting last season (.381) en route to first-team all-conference recognition, is now six for 15 this season (.400), with two triples, one double and a homer.

Olson’s solo blast, a liner into a jet stream blowing straight out, just cleared the fence in right center to open the scoring for the Pirates, tying the score at 1-1.

One out later, sophomore right fielder Mike Ferraro singled, stole second and scored on freshman catcher Jourdan Watanabe’s bloop single to right to give the Pirates a lead they would never relinquish.

OCC scored four runs in the fourth, including an RBI single by Muhlsteff and a run-scoring double by Olson over the right fielder’s head.

The 6-1 lead expanded to 7-1 thanks to freshman Drew Hillman’s sacrifice line drive to left that scored Sheeks from third.

OCC starter Chris Licon helped the Pirates maintain control, allowing six hits and one earned run in six innings. The lone run, produced by three straight singles and a sacrifice fly in the first, is the only earned run Licon, a freshman from Diamond Ranch High, has yielded in 11 innings this season. Licon picked up the win to improve to 2-0.

Two effective relief innings by sophomore Ryan Rosenhahn helped extend OCC’s mound mastery this season to 38 innings with just three earned runs allowed. Long Beach managed an unearned run off Rosenhahn in the eighth, when the Pirates committed the third of their four errors.

Rosenhahn, however, was rocked in the ninth, surrendering four runs, including a three-run homer by Brian Lord, before freshman shortstop Brett Wallach was summoned to earn his third save of the campaign.

Wallach, who was two for five in the No. 9 spot, struck out the side in order for his first perfect inning of the season. His two previous saves, both against Cuesta, ended with the bases loaded. Wallach, the son of former Major Leaguer Tim Wallach, pitched very little at Orange Lutheran High.

Ferraro finished two for four with two stolen bases, while freshman Austin Elliott, a Corona del Mar High product, and Watanabe each finished two for five.

OCC stranded 13 runners, three of whom might have scored, had they made better reads, Altobelli said.

The Vikings (2-1) stranded 10 and finished with 12 hits.

The two teams will meet again Friday (at OCC) and Saturday (at Long Beach).

Nonconference

Orange Coast 8, Long Beach 6

SCORE BY INNINGS

Chipman, Plummer (4), De La Paz (5), Fredrick (6), Rodriguez (7) and Junghanel; Licon, Rosenhahn (7), Wallach (9) and Watanabe. W – Licon, 2-0. L – Chipman, 0-1. Sv – Wallach (3). 2B – Olson (OCC), Van Horn (LB) 2, Beckley (LB), Lord (LB). HR – Olson (OCC), Lord (LB).

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.