ALL-ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAM : Fontana, Hernandez Receive Top Honors

Mike Fontana of Rancho Santiago was named pitcher of the year and second baseman Daniel Hernandez of Orange Coast was selected player of the year by a vote of the Orange Empire Conference baseball coaches.

Fontana, a sophomore right-hander from Cupertino High School, was 11-0 in the regular season and 8-0 in conference games. Hernandez, a sophomore from Ocean View, hit .510 in conference and .442 overall.

Don Sneddon, who led Rancho Santiago to its third consecutive conference title, was named coach of the year. The Dons have won four of the last five Orange Empire titles.

Other first-team members: pitchers Todd Blyleven (Cypress), Tim Carman (Fullerton), J.J. Thobe (Rancho Santiago) and Tom Waterman (Saddleback); catcher Nathan Malagon (Saddleback); infielders David Newhan (Cypress), Ramon Apodaca (Fullerton), Chris Sauritch (Saddleback) and Scott Wulfing (Riverside); outfielders Randy Betten (Riverside), Charles Gipson (Cypress), Ben Mendoza (Golden West) and Darvin Traylor (Riverside); utility player Neil Garcia (Saddleback), and designated hitter Aaron Butler (Rancho Santiago).

The second team: pitchers Gus Castro (Riverside), Aaron Charlton (Fullerton), Chad Rolish (Orange Coast) and Andy Trumpour (Cypress); catchers Robin Lindsey (Rancho Santiago) and Shaun Sanderfer (Riverside); infielders Dean Funkhouser (Riverside), Sal Mancuso (Fullerton), Andy Gonzales (Cypress), Octavio Medina (Rancho Santiago), David Renteria (Riverside), Brian Sosa (Riverside) and Jason Diplock (Fullerton), and outfielders Robert Garcia (Saddleback), Alphonzo Montoya (Orange Coast) and Tony Truel (Rancho Santiago).