Santa Ana Cruises in Basketball Playoffs

Lohnnie Tape had 24 points and Jehovany Barraza had 18 as Santa Ana defeated Cerro Coso, 78-57, in a Southern California men’s basketball playoff game Saturday night at Santa Ana College.

Trailing, 27-22, with 4 minutes 30 seconds remaining in the first half, the Dons went on a 13-2 run to end the half with a six-point lead. The Dons host Los Angeles Trade Tech in Wednesday’s second round.

In Orange Empire Conference baseball:

Fullerton 8, Golden West 7--Tim Hunt was five for five with two RBIs for visiting Fullerton. Jim Hostetler (2-1) pitched a complete game for the Hornets (10-5-1, 2-1).

Jeff Jones was three for five with a home run for Golden West (9-5-2, 2-2).

Saddleback 6, Orange Coast 0--Jeff Barndollar and two relievers limited the Pirates to eight singles and Nick Punto and Greg Pines each had two home runs to lead Saddleback (11-3, 2-2).

Punto hit bases-empty home runs in the first and third innings, and Pines hit a home run in the second and a two-run shot in the sixth.

Jon Fenoglio gave up three of the home runs and took the loss for Orange Coast (7-7, 0-3).

Santa Ana 10, Riverside 9--Shaun Wooley was two for three with two RBIs and Michael Vento was one for two with a two-run homer for host Santa Ana. Michael Natale (5-0) struck out four and gave up six hits in six innings for the Dons (15-2, 3-1).

In the Victor Valley softball tournament:

Saddleback 7, Riverside 0 (5 innings)--Tara Kroener pitched a four-hitter with four strikeouts for Saddleback (8-2) in the third of three games.

Kroener (6-0) was named most valuable player of the tournament with two wins and was also a combined five for nine with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Saddleback defeated Glendale, 9-4 (four innings), in the first game and defeated Victor Valley, 5-2, in the second to claim the championship with a 3-0 record in the tournament.

In the Saddleback Swimming Pentathlon:

Golden West wins--Golden West took first place in the women’s team competition in a time of 12 minutes 56.38 seconds. Palomar (13:12.16) was second and Saddleback (13:15.98) finished third. In the men’s event, Golden West finished first in a time of 21:38.22. Chaffey (21:59.82) was second and Saddleback (22:38.12) third.