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MISSION VIEJO - Host Saddleback College seized an 8-0 lead through three innings and cruised to a 12-5 Orange Empire Conference baseball win over Orange Coast Tuesday. Willie Keller went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Ryan France hit a three-run homer for the Pirates, who fell to 3-11 in conference. ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE Saddleback 12, Orange Coast 5 Orange coast 000 320 000 - 5 6 2 Saddleback 116 101 11x - 12 15 1 Carey, Greco (4), Devin (6)

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College's baseball team scored five runs in the seventh inning to beat visiting Fullerton, 8-6, Thursday in an Orange Empire Conference game. Nick Orlandos and Chris Laws led off the Pirates' seventh with doubles, and Ryan Anderson singled to drive in a run. After Jason Reuss reached on an error with two outs, Ryan France drove in two more runs with a double. After a hit batsman and another error, Willie Keller drove the final OCC (17-21, 7-14 in conference)

SANTA ANA - Orange Coast College's baseball team lost an Orange Empire Conference game Saturday to host Santa Ana, 10-7. The Pirates (6-15, 1-8 in conference) got plenty of offense. Eric Wiethorn went 3 for 4 with a home run, Willie Keeler and Ryan France each hit two doubles, and Chris Laws and Nick Orlandos each had two hits for OCC. But baserunning errors killed the Pirates. They had two runners picked of, including one that killed a rally. ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE Santa Ana 10, OCC 7 Score by innings OCC 000 400 201 - 7 14 2 Santa Ana 103 050 200 - 10 14 0 SA - na. Bostick, J. Coleman (5)

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Ryan France went 2 for 5 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Orange Coast College baseball team to an 11-9 win over rival Golden West Tuesday on the Rustlers' field. France's blast keyed a seven-run fourth inning giving the Pirates the lead for good. Chris Laws, Jason Reuss and Blair Havens each had a pair of hits for the Pirates (11-19, 5-12 in conference), while Adam Anderson and Nick Orlandos each had two RBIs. Ty Harper (Corona del Mar High)

COSTA MESA - The Orange Coast College baseball team squandered a 3-0 first-inning lead, but rallied from a 10-5 deficit with six runs in the eighth to claim an 11-10 win from nonconference visitor Long Beach City Thursday. A bases-loaded double by Ryan France keyed the eight-inning outburst, in which the first eight Pirates reached base. France finished 4 for 5 with two RBIs, while Jason Reuss and Corona del Mar High product Eric Wiethorn each had two hits and combined for five RBI. Wiethorn hit the game's only home run, a solo shot in the seventh.

Three suspects who authorities say are connected to the 1995 slaying of a 24-year-old man pleaded not guilty this week. Gianni Anthony Van, 43, and Diane Tran, 44, both of Costa Mesa, pleaded not guilty Friday in Orange County Superior Court. The two - as well as Santa Ana resident Shannon Ray Gries, 42, who pleaded not guilty Wednesday - are each charged with one felony count of murder and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime, with two sentencing enhancements for kidnapping and lying in wait.

NORWALK - Ethan Cochran called Friday the worst competitive day of a stellar three-year run he's had while throwing for Newport Harbor High. He was in a funk competing in the discus at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Cerritos College. Cochran never appeared nervous with two throws remaining and without a qualifying mark for the State Meet. The Newport senior qualified on his fifth throw and unleashed a mark of 197 feet, 10 inches on his final throw to become the Masters champion.

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College pitcher Drew Parkin induced a bases-loaded groundout to earn his eighth save and preserve a wild 12-11 Orange Empire Conference baseball victory over visiting Cypress Thursday. The Chargers (22-6, 9-6 in conference) erupted for six runs in the first inning, but OCC (10-18, 4-11) answered quickly. Ryan France belted a three-run homer and Willie Keller followed with another dinger to key a five-run first. The hosts then scored four in the second and another in the third to seize a 10-6 cushion.

Sophomore left-hander Kyle Allen, the ace of Orange Coast College's pitching staff this season, was selected in the 32nd round -- No. 947 overall -- by the Colorado Rockies in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft Wednesday. Allen finished 2003 with a 3.35 ERA while going 6-5. The Trabuco Hills High grad struck out 120 batters in just 99 1/3 innings, including a school-record 18 in a 4-1 win against Riverside. Allen tossed six complete games and collected two saves for the Pirates (19-21-1, 8-16 in the Orange Empire Conference)

VISALIA - Orange Coast College's baseball team found things a lot more hospitable up north. The Pirates pounded out 25 runs in two victories Thursday at the College of the Sequoias Tournament. They remain unbeaten in the tournament, and they can be the only undefeated team if they win their last game today against the College of the Sequoias, OCC will be the only unbeaten team in the tournament. In Thursday's first game, OCC (15-20) scored six times in the fourth inning en route to an 11-5 victory over Reedley.