COLLEGES:

One man’s castoffs are another man’s crew. No one knows this better than Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, who is benefiting from the contributions of some unlikely heroes as his team enters the four-team Southern California Super Regional beginning Friday at Cuesta College.

The Pirates (32-13-1) will meet Cypress (29-7) at 11 a.m. in the opening round of the double-elimination format, from which one team will advance to reach the four-team state championship tournament, May 24-26 at Fresno City College.

Cypress presents an interesting matchup, since two of OCC’s top pitchers, including sophomore ace Brandon Dixon, began their collegiate careers at the Pirates’ Orange Empire Conference rival.

Sophomore pitcher Ryan Rosenhahn and sophomore designated hitter Kyle Muhlsteff, one of eight OCC regulars hitting better than .300, are also Cypress transfers.

OCC beat Cypress twice in three conference meetings this season, with one of those wins coming in Rosenhahn’s best outing of the season. The 6-foot-5 right-hander had been buried in the Pirates bullpen, until shifting to a submarine delivery at the urging of OCC pitching coaches Dave Bowman and Bob Flint.

In Rosenhahn’s first start after the switch, ending a 30-game stint in which he had not pitched, he went nine strong innings against the Chargers on April 24, in a game OCC won, 3-2, in 10 innings. Rosenhahn allowed six hits and one earned run and has since been a valued member of the staff, working both as a starter and a reliever.

Dixon, who worked seven innings in one full season and a redshirt year with the Chargers, has been the Pirates’ workhorse this season. He is 10-4 with a 2.87 earned-run average and he also has a save in 21 appearances.

His first chance to pitch against his old team produced an 11-6 Cypress victory, as Dixon allowed six runs and nine hits in three innings.

But both are eager to get the ball Saturday, a decision Altobelli had not made as of Monday.

“Obviously there’s a little more of an edge [against Cypress],” Dixon said. “But if I don’t get the ball, [Rosenhahn] is probably going to get the ball and he’s in the same situation as me.

“The last time I pitched against them, it wasn’t just Cypress vs. Orange Coast, but it was more of a Dixon vs. demons, or Dixon vs. [Cypress Coach Scott] Pickler kind of thing,” Dixon said. “I didn’t want to make it that kind of a situation. Now, I look at Cypress as just another team standing between us and our goal of making it to the final four.”

Rosenhahn was also philosophical about the potential rematch.

“It’s funny how things work out,” he said. “It’s all timing. Certain situations, people fit in and other situations, people don’t. There isn’t any bitterness toward Cypress. They have a great program. I didn’t fit into their plans over there, but I just love the situation over here. I got the real opportunity I thought I deserved [at OCC] and I appreciate [Altobelli] for that.

“But, it’s always nice to come back and beat the team you used to play for. It just makes it a little bit sweeter.”

Muhlsteff is batting .343 with 18 runs batted in and two stolen bases. He has played in 38 games, including 27 starts.

“We recruited Muhlsteff and Dixon out of high school, and Rosenhahn was from out of state [Colorado Springs],” Altobelli said. “They were unhappy with their playing time over at Cypress and if kids at this level aren’t playing, they’re going to go somewhere where they think there’s a better fit.”

 Cypress is not the only team in the Cuesta Super Regional that OCC has had success against this season.

The Pirates are 2-0-1 against Cuesta (32-13-1), and they swept their three games against conference foe Riverside (29-17).

The Pirates, who swept Long Beach in the best-of-three first round, have won three straight and six of their last seven. They have put together winning streaks of nine, seven five and four this season. They also have endured losing streaks of five and four.

— Check out Barry Faulkner’s blog, “More than a game,” at dailypilot.com/dailyblogger/bfaulkner

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