COSTA MESA — Worn out from having few days off since late January, Coach John Altobelli looked at his Orange Coast College baseball team.
Players were in dire need of a boost.
Tuesday marked the eighth game in the last 14 days for the Pirates. So before the eighth inning, with visiting College of the Canyons leading by three runs, Altobelli addressed his team.
“Hey, let’s have a come-from-behind win. We haven’t done that all year,” Altobelli said. “Let’s believe in it and get it done.”
With one swing of the bat, OCC did, as well as preserve its unbeaten streak at home this season.
Cory Olson couldn’t wait to deliver the goods with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth. The sophomore drove a changeup toward left-center field, knowing he hit the eventual game-winner once the ball bounced off the fence’s yellow padding, making it possible for OCC to win, 8-7.
Once Olson came home, overzealous teammates greeted him with open arms and high-fives. His first grand slam in his baseball career, but to Olson the victory accomplished more than an individual feat, the ability to come back and win.
“That was one thing that last year that we had trouble with,” said Olson, a center fielder, who was 3 for 3 with two walks and two runs. “We’d get behind by four runs, and you know it’s like [we couldn’t come back]. It’s good, because later on in the road, we [already] proved that we could come back and win.
“It’s never over. That’s the one thing you want to prove.”
Early on the Pirates (8-2-1) have shown Altobelli in nonconference play that this year’s team is better than last year’s.
More depth than the 26-21 team, with guys able to come off the bench and produce. In a couple of crucial instances against Canyons (2-5), players like catcher D.J. Arellano, shortstop Kyle Muhlsteff, and from the bullpen, Matt Hauser, showed that ability.
Before Olson hit his second home run of the season, it was Arellano leading off the eighth with a bloop single to right. Once reliever Jake Miranda walked leadoff-hitter Chris Fung, one of seven walks allowed by four pitchers, OCC was in business down, 7-4. Wes Kartch reached base on a bunt toward the third-base line, giving Miranda no chance at first. Miranda held the ball.
