Pirates aim for yet another postseason

If the Orange Coast College baseball team is to take another step forward this season, it will do so on the strength of some pitchers who are bounce-backs from four-year programs.

Coach John Altobelli enters his 17th season at the Pirates’ helm on the heels of back-to-back appearances in the Southern California Super Regionals, including a 32-15-1 season in 2008 in which OCC finished second in the rugged Orange Empire Conference.

The Pirates were picked to finish third, behind Santa Ana and Cypress, respectively, in this year’s preseason coaches’ poll. But Altobelli has a hunch that bigger things are possible for this group, led by returning All-American third baseman Drew Hillman.

“We still have some question marks, but this could be a playoff team and it could be a state championship team,” said Altobelli, whose squad opens the season today with a nonconference home game against Mt. San Antonio at 2 p.m.

The Pirates will be without three players who earned all-conference honors last season, two of whom have moved on to four-year schools and one, catcher Jourdan Watanabe, who is redshirting.

Hillman, who has signed with UC Irvine, will help anchor the lineup. He hit .350 with three home runs and 44 RBIs as a freshman out of El Toro High. He also had a .515 slugging percentage and led the team with 16 doubles.

Sophomore returners Ryan Dunn and D.J. Arellano both hit better than .300 last season, while sophomore Brett Wallach was a two-way standout last season.

Wallach is the son of former Major Leaguer Tim Wallach and has signed with Long Beach State as a pitcher. He figures to make the transition from closer to starter this season. He had 10 saves with a 3-2 record and a 3.13 earned-run average last season, when he struck out 30 in 31 2/3 innings. He could also contribute with the bat, after hitting .288 with 19 RBIs, though Altobelli indicated that limiting Wallach’s time in the field may help save his talented right arm.

“Long Beach State wants to make him a Friday night guy,” Altobelli said. “He’s got a plus slider and he could be one of the top right-handers in the state.”

Joining Wallach on the mound is sophomore returner Chris Licon (6-2 with a 4.33 ERA in 11 starts and 15 appearances last season), as well as today’s starter, Kyle Krogman, freshman Calvin Drummond, as well as sophomores Brett Williams and Beck Wheeler.

Krogman is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound freshman right-hander out of Trabuco Hills, while Drummond, a who began his collegiate career at Arizona State, is a 6-3 right-hander out of Huntington Beach High.

Williams is bouncing back from Loyola Marymount, while Wheeler, was at the University of the Pacific last season.

Altobelli said freshman Scott Hong, a bounce-back from UCI, could fill the closer role, in addition to bolstering the outfield.

Dunn is back at shortstop, after hitting .321 with one homer and 15 RBIs in 44 games last season, including 33 starts.

Arellano batted .304 in 23 at-bats, and will anchor a talented defense behind the plate, as Watanabe is shoring up academic issues, Altobelli said.

Altobelli is high on his outfield corps, which includes sophomore returner Ryan Sheeks, as well as brothers Ricky and Mykal Stokes.

Sheeks batted .336 with 17 RBIs in 119 at-bats last season. The left fielder should open in the leadoff spot, Altobelli said.

Ricky Stokes, a contributor on the 2005 OCC unit that reached the four-team state tournament, had earned the right field job, but is now sidelined for at least a week with a sprained ankle.

Altobelli said either Hong or Kris Martin, a freshman out of Woodbridge High, will start in place of Ricky Stokes in right.

Scott Stidham, a freshman bounce-back from Cal State Northridge, via Capistrano Valley High, is a left-handed power bat that should fill the designated hitter spot.

“[Stidham] has tremendous power,” Altobelli said.

Altobelli said Wheeler or sophomore Kevin Clark could play first base, as could Wallach, while Alonzo Torres, a freshman from San Dimas High, is slated to start at second base.

“I like these guys, I like our depth and I like the way they play together,” Altobelli said. “But we need some breaks, a little luck and we need some guys to step up.”

Among those adding depth is freshman catcher Josh Berryhill, the son of former OCC catcher Damon Berryhill, who went on to play 10 Major League seasons with five teams, most notably the Cubs.

OCC opens conference play Feb. 26 at Cypress.

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