Santa Ana College players and coaches celebrate after winning the state title Monday. (Photo courtesy SAC Sports Information).
Dons defeat Saddleback twice; Christian Thompson (Cypress) named MVP.
The Santa Ana College baseball team claimed its fourth state title in program history after going undefeated in the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association State Championships held over Memorial Day weekend.
The Dons clinched the title Monday with a 21-8 victory over Orange Empire Conference rival Saddleback College.
The Dons (36-15) made an impressive run to come out on top in the three day, four-team tournament as they showed they could win in a multitude of ways.
On the first day of the tournament, the Dons passed their toughest test as they defeated Folsom Lake College (36-13) of 8-7 after a five hour, 15-inning battle to advance to the winner’s bracket.
Sophomore outfielder Ryann Stock (Servite High School) was the hero with a clutch solo home run over the left field fence in the top of the 15th inning to give Santa Ana the lead for good.
The Dons returned to the field on short rest to face-off against a familiar foe and fellow Orange Empire Conference member Saddleback College (38-13) on Sunday.
Although Santa Ana fell behind 2-0 after one inning, the Dons quickly found their rhythm at the plate while their pitching held the Bobcats in check. SAC went on to win game two 13-4 to punch its ticket into championship Monday once again vs. Saddleback College.
Saddleback needed to win the game to force a second game Monday.
SAC held the Bobcats scoreless in the first inning and then got back to business on offense, collecting four hits and five runs to jump out to an early lead.
The Bobcats would not go away easily as they responded with five runs over the next two innings.
But the Dons offense continued to produce, making it virtually impossible for Saddleback to keep up. Santa Ana scored 21 runs and recorded 20 hits.
SAC’s sophomore outfielder Christian Thompson (Cypress High School) was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after going 10 for 16 at the plate with four RBI over three games which included a 5 for 5 performance in the finale.
“Before the game I told myself I was going to going to go 5-for-5,” said Thompson. “For that to come true and us to win this to win this just doesn’t feel real.”
With the win, the Dons put an end to the 27-year title drought.
“Our group was fantastic, besides being good baseball players, they were a fun group to be around,” said SAC Coach Tom Nilles. “I told them when we got to the playoffs that I was extremely proud of them and like every group, we certainly had our adversity that we had to overcome but those guys played their tails off.”
The Dons have a handful of sophomores that already have offers to join four year schools but are excited to bring back freshmen such as pitchers Hauze Fragoso, Jaxton Andeel and Joey Iglesias as well as every day players like Mikey Rocha, Jimmy DeAnda and Matthew Dobson for the 2024 season.
Saddleback finished the season 38-13, which is the second most wins in any season for the program. Saddleback won 39 games in 1998, finishing as a runner-up to Sacramento City College.
Saddleback won the Orange Empire Conference for a second straight season and captured its first regional title since 2004.
Cole Koniarsky, Isaiah Morales and Jason Hefft led the Bobcats with two hits each in the finale. Saddleback fans chceered when Deacon Nagy entered the game in the eighth inning to put and retired the Dons in order.
Click here to see the SAC baseball roster:
—Story courtesy Santa Ana College sports information; Saddleback information provided by Saddleback College sports information.
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