Saddleback

Where/when: 6 p.m. Saturday at Saddleback Key Pirates: Fr. QB Alex Cappellini; Fr. TB Domenic Betts; Fr. TB Dylan Chynoweth; So. DL Ross Pitsenberger; So. CB Evan Law. Key Gauchos: So. RB Donnell Dickerson (753 rushing yards, nine TDs last season); So. WR Rodney Woodland (43 receptions for 488 yards and five TDs last season). Breakdown: The Pirates are coming off a 2-8 season, while the Gauchos, ranked No. 5 in California and No. 10 in one national preseason poll, were 8-3 a year ago … Cappallini beat out two other freshmen to earn the nod at quarterback for OCC, for which Andrew Young and Dalton Gervais are also expected to see action … Also debuting for the Pirates is first-year offensive coordinator Jack Wigmore, who guides the newly installed spread offense … Betts, a scat back with impressive credentials at Banning High of Banning, gets his first game action since his senior prep season in 2008 … Saddleback has won four straight in the series and outscored OCC, 89-20, the last two seasons … Law and Pitsenberger are the only two starters returning from an OCC defense that ranked third against the run and ninth overall among 37 schools in the Southern California Football Assn.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL Orange Coast def. Saddleback MISSION VIEJO - Karlee Riggs had 15 kills to help lead the unbeaten Pirates, ranked No. 2 in the state, to a 25-21, 25-22, 25-23 Orange Empire Conference victory Wednesday. Morgan Link added 11 kills, Allison Lumsden had 24 assists and Andi Frisina finished with 13 digs for OCC (9-0, 2-0 in conference). Saddleback is 2-9, 0-2. * WOMEN'S SOCCER Vanguard 2, San Diego Christian 0 COSTA MESA - Senior Amanda Couch and junior Kayla Arenas each scored a goal on Wednesday as the 11th-ranked Lions improved to 3-0 in Golden State Athletic Conference play.

GIRLS' TENNIS Costa Mesa 17, Saddleback 1 SANTA ANA — Mustangs sophomore Mahina Won-Milhon swept at No. 1 singles in the Orange Coast League match Thursday at Saddleback. Won-Milhon lost just two games for Mesa (2-0 overall and in league). At No. 1 doubles, seniors Jacky Dang and Lisa Vu lost just three games and also swept. Costa Mesa plays host to Calvary Chapel on Tuesday. * Newport Harbor 15, Edison 3 HUNTINGTON BEACH — The three-time-defending Sunset League champion Sailors opened league play on the road on Thursday.

The Corona del Mar High boys' soccer team will be at home for its CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinal today at 3 p.m. against Saddleback, but it will be fighting against great odds. The Sea Kings (9-11-2) will be without senior captain Bryan Burke, who was assessed two yellow cards in CdM's 2-1 win over Orange Wednesday. Not only that, Corona del Mar will most likely be down to its third goalie, Jaffar Kattan, who usually plays in the field. Aman Sahni, who starts at goalie, was in the emergency room Wednesday dealing with the effects from what is believed to be a concussion, Sea Kings Coach Pat Callaghan said.

COSTA MESA - When it was suggested that a batting-glove bonfire may be in order after his Orange Coasts College baseball team fell, 9-1, to visiting Saddleback on Saturday to extend the Pirates' losing streak to four games, Coach John Altobelli said he doubted his squad could generate sufficient heat to fuel such a ceremony. Seemingly the only sparks flying for the Pirates these days are the impassioned postgame speeches of coaches trying to ignite a flame under a group of players who are stumbling down the stretch.

SANTA ANA - Out in the cold for three straight hours, Jennifer Broderick tried to flee her Estancia High girls' team when time expired. She wanted to get warm. She didn't get far on Thursday. Players grabbed the coach, helped her take off her boots, and then threw her into the pool. She found out the warmest place to be was in the water. "Very refreshing!" Broderick said of how she felt after she climbed out of the heated pool, with her jeans, sweater and socks soaked.

SANTA ANA - Recent history is showing that it is unwise to sleep on the Estancia High boys' soccer team. But Friday the Eagles proved that merely blinking can be equally detrimental for opponents. After taking a 1-0 lead in a crucial Orange Coast League clash at Saddleback, Estancia rallied from a 3-1 deficit to claim a 3-3 tie. Senior midfielder Christian Gomez, serving as a one-man wake-up call after the Roadrunners (12-3-4, 4-2-2 in league) scored three straight goals to seize a seemingly comfortable halftime advantage, produced two goals and an assist for the Eagles (8-5-6, 3-2-2)

BASEBALL Orange Coast 7, Cuesta 1 SAN LUIS OBISPO - Sophomore shortstop Manny Argomaniz drove in three runs to pace five Pirates who had two hits in the nonconference season opener Friday at Cuesta College. Argomaniz was two for four and scored a run as Evan Porcella worked five shutout innings to earn the pitching victory. Sophomores Ricky Navarro and Zach Nehrir were two for three, while sophomore Danny Jiminez and freshman Cody Bruder were both two for five.

SANTA ANA - How can a team that is unbeaten in league at this point of the season be in danger of missing the playoffs? Welcome to the 2012-13 Estancia High girls' soccer season. The Eagles put forth another big effort Thursday afternoon at Saddleback High, battling the Roadrunners to a scoreless tie. But the difference between three points for a win and one point for a tie becomes more and more obvious as the Orange Coast League schedule hits the home stretch. The ties are getting a bit ridiculous for Estancia (6-2-12, 2-0-6 in league)

COSTA MESA - Coach Robert Castellano has told his players that they're all important and he needs each one of them to do their part. He's not kidding. Everyone on the team gets to play. With only 15 players, the Estancia High boys' soccer team is thin. The program began the season with 20 players, but three players have been lost to injuries and two players because they had to get jobs. At halftime of the Eagles' match on Friday, they lost another player. Castellano said Chris Gomez, the team's leading goal scorer last season, had to leave because of work.

BOYS' BASKETBALL Newport Harbor 72, Marina 49 HUNTINGTON BEACH - Junior guard Nic Sargeant had 23 points for the Sailors, who picked up their first Sunset League win of the season Wednesday night at Marina High. Brian Robbs had 17 points and eight rebounds for Newport Harbor (10-10, 1-3 in league),. Zach Wade had 12 points and dished out six assists, and Kevin Rakestraw had eight rebounds. Newport Harbor plays host to Los Alamitos at 7 p.m. Friday. * Costa Mesa 49, Saddleback 44 COSTA MESA - Junior guard Kyle Hefner had 17 points for the Mustangs in the Orange Coast League game Wednesday at Costa Mesa High.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Saddleback 71, Orange Coast 62 MISSION VIEJO - Dayanara Armenta scored 16 points to lead the Pirates in the Orange Empire Conference game Wednesday. Jenna Arnett had 14 points and 12 rebounds, Michelle Angel scored 10 points and Jalecia Wilson had nine points and 14 rebounds for OCC (9-9, 0-2 in conference). Saddleback is 10-9, 1-1. * Hawaii 56, UC Irvine 46 HONOLULU - Jasmine Bernard scored a team-high 16 points for the Anteaters in the Big West Conference game Wednesday night.