Pirates picked third in OEC preseason poll

Orange Coast College finished third in the Orange Empire Conference preseason baseball coaches poll released Friday.

The Pirates, coming off back-to-back 30-win seasons in which they advanced to the Super Regionals, compiled 79 points in the voting, trailing Santa Ana (107) and Cypress (99), respectively. Santa Ana received 10 of the 14 first-place votes, with Cypress gaining the other four.

Riverside (58 points), Irvine Valley (54), Saddleback (47), Golden West (40) and Fullerton (22) rounded out the poll.

OCC, coached by John Altobelli, is led by sophomore third baseman Drew Hillman and sophomore pitcher/infielder Brent Wallach.

Hillman, who has signed with UC Irvine, earned Southern California All-American and first-team all-conference honors last season, when he hit .350 with three homers, 44 RBIs and a .515 slugging percentage.

Wallach, the son of former Major Leaguer Tim Wallach, was 3-2 with 10 saves and a 3.13 ERA as a freshman, when he fanned 30 in 31 2/3 innings as the team’s closer. The Long Beach State signee also hit .288 with 19 RBIs in 2008.

Altobelli said Jourdan Watanabe, a first-team all-conference catcher last season, when he hit .353 with seven homers and 40 RBIs, will redshirt this season.

The Pirates open the season Jan. 27 at home against Mt. San Antonio.

— Barry Faulkner