OCC roster lacks familiar ring

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, suspended for his team’s postseason run to the 2009 state championship after excessive ejections, joked that his game uniform this season would include duct tape over his mouth.

But with just seven players and one full-time starter back from the squad that went 37-14 to set a school record for victories, he is hoping he won’t need anything like the all-purpose adhesive to hold together his inexperienced lineup.

“It’s a bunch of new faces and a very unproven team to say the least,” said Altobelli, who last season, his 17th at the Pirates’ helm, became the school’s all-time victories leader with 402. “I like the depth we have. We don’t have any great players, but we have a lot of good players.”

OCC opens defense of the program’s fourth state crown (others in 1980, 1960 and 1956) at home against Cuesta today at 2 p.m.

Foremost among the returners is sophomore center fielder Mykal Stokes, who hit .340 with three homers, seven triples and 35 runs batted in and made 47 starts last season, before being drafted in the 46th round by the San Diego Padres.

Designated hitter Scott Stidham (.295 with three home runs and 30 RBIs in 112 at-bats), outfielder Chris Martin (.364 in 33 at-bats), and Trevor McDonald (five at-bats before being sidelined by an infection) are the only other position players back.

And Altobelli can’t take much solace from a wealth of veteran presence on the mound, where returners Kyle Krogman, Andy Abrams and Josh Lee logged 69 2/3 innings and a combined 3-2 record.

Among the notable losses is Orange Empire Conference and Southern California Player of the Year Brett Wallach. Wallach, a pitcher-first baseman who was 10-1 with a 2.26 earned-run average and four saves and hit .373 with 48 RBIs, passed up a scholarship to Long Beach State to sign with the Dodgers, who drafted him in the third round (96th overall) in June.

Drew Hillman, now at UC Irvine, was a two-time All-American third baseman who had 11 homers, 53 RBIs and a school single-season record 21 doubles last season. He was drafted in the 38th round by Tampa Bay.

Reliever Brett Williams (4-3 with seven saves and a 2.01 ERA) and shortstop Beck Wheeler (.333 with 28 RBIs) were additional All-SoCal picks who have moved on, while the departed DJ Arellano, last year’s catcher and team leader, was named MVP of the state tournament.

Outfielder Scott Hong (.320 with 15 RBIs in 31 starts) and pitcher Calvin Drummond (9-5 with a 4.60 ERA in 15 starts) are not back after strong campaigns as freshmen. Hong is academically ineligible and Drummond elected to leave early for the University of San Diego, where he will sit out this season, Altobelli said.

“Stokes is going to be our guy,” Altobelli said. “He will be in the middle of our order and has been swinging the bat well.”

Stidham, who struggled with consistency in 2009, is expected to be the everyday DH, while McDonald, an Estancia High product, is the early front-runner for the third-base job.

Stokes, with nine stolen bases in 13 attempts last season, may have the company of more thieves, as Altobelli identified speed as one area in which this year’s squad trumps last year’s.

Martin is the starter in left.

Freshman Kevin Cho, whose batting style emulates Ichiro Suzuki, Altobelli said, and freshman speedster Steven McMichael are also expected to contribute in the outfield.

Matt Glazier, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound El Toro High product back from a two-year mission, is the starter at first base and freshman Matt Akiyama, a bounce-back from Cal State Bakersfield, is projected to open at second base.

Jordan Beck leads a battle at shortstop, while Altobelli said he is still waiting for someone to emerge from a four-player logjam behind the plate.

Ryan Doran, a freshman out of Servite High, is today’s projected starting pitcher, said Altobelli, who believes Doran may also contribute with the bat.

“He reminds me of a young Brett Wallach,” Altobelli said.

Left-hander Steven Cerda opens as the No. 2 starter, with freshman Jeremy Hepler slated to be the No. 3 starter, Altobelli said.

Other pitching roles will be determined and a handful of guys are coming off surgery or battling minor arm ailments, Altobelli said.