The Riverside City College baseball team (12-7, 5-1 OEC) continued its strong start to conference play with a convincing win over the Fullerton College Hornets (8-11, 1-5 OEC) by a score of 7-3 Tuesday afternoon in Fullerton.
Both teams got off to an early start with the RCC striking first in the top of the first inning when second baseman Grady Espinosa was able to reach home on a triple by designated hitter Frankie Torres.
Hornets left fielder Eric Bernstein was able to score the equalizer in the bottom of the first inning when, after having already stolen second base, he was brought around to score on a single into left field by first baseman Derek Collins.
Fullerton would take a brief lead over the Tigers in the bottom of the fourth inning when Hornets designated hitter David Arnold would single and subsequently steal second base. He would later score on a base hit by second baseman Tanner McCall.
From that point on it was all Riverside. The Tigers would score six runs in top of the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by a series in the top of the fifth inning in which Tigers shortstop David Kiriakos would drive in a run with a single up the middle and then proceed to steal not only second base but home plate as well in one of the more uniquely productive innings that can be seen in baseball.
Tigers starter Brian Hopper (2-1) collected the win, working five innings while allowing only two earned runs. The loss was attributed to Hornets starting pitcher Richard Lucas (2-3) who would wind up allowing five runs in five innings played. Only three of the runs Lucas allowed were credited as earned however as the Hornets defense was plagued by four errors on the day.
For their next game RCC will travel to Costa Mesa to take on the Pirates of Orange Coast College on March 17 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Strong pitching performance by Chabot fuels Tigers win
For most of the season Riverside City College's bats had carried them to a winning record, however it was starting pitcher Matt Chabot who shut down the Cypress College Chargers (10-6, 3-2 OEC) on Saturday afternoon in a 7-2 Tigers victory at Evans Field in Riverside.
In Chabot's last performance against Saddleback College he struggled with his command, hitting four batters and allowing five earned runs while lasting only 4.1 innings. Against Cypress however Chabot (2-1) pitched the Tigers (11-7, 4-1 OEC) first complete game of the season allowing only one earned run scattered among four hits for a Chargers team that was unable to do much more than ground out to Tigers shortstop David Kiriakos for most of the game. Chabot credited an altered delivery to his impressive performance.
The Tigers offense made several contributions of their own to the impressive win hanging seven runs, six of them earned, on the aptly named Chargers starter Travis Pitcher (1-1).
In Chabot's last performance against Saddleback College he struggled with his command, hitting four batters and allowing five earned runs while lasting only 4.1 innings. Against Cypress however Chabot (2-1) pitched the Tigers (11-7, 4-1 OEC) first complete game of the season allowing only one earned run scattered among four hits for a Chargers team that was unable to do much more than ground out to Tigers shortstop David Kiriakos for most of the game. Chabot credited an altered delivery to his impressive performance.
The Tigers offense made several contributions of their own to the impressive win hanging seven runs, six of them earned, on the aptly named Chargers starter Travis Pitcher (1-1).
Right fielder Cade Gotta set the pace early for the Tigers with a triple in the top of the first inning driving Michael Castello, Chad Erickson, and Kiriakos in to score.
The Tigers would continue their assault on the Chargers in the second and third innings as well scoring two runs in each. The scoring was highlighted by a thrilling play in which Tigers center fielder Aaron LaFountaine stole home in one of the more exciting moments of RCC’s season thus far.
LaFountaine continued his surge that began with onset of conference play with three hits in his four plate appearances as well as scoring a run in addition to the aforementioned steal of home. LaFountaine credits his success to seeing the ball better at the plate.
The Tigers next game will be against the Hornets of Fullerton College on March 15 at 2 p.m.
The Tigers would continue their assault on the Chargers in the second and third innings as well scoring two runs in each. The scoring was highlighted by a thrilling play in which Tigers center fielder Aaron LaFountaine stole home in one of the more exciting moments of RCC’s season thus far.
LaFountaine continued his surge that began with onset of conference play with three hits in his four plate appearances as well as scoring a run in addition to the aforementioned steal of home. LaFountaine credits his success to seeing the ball better at the plate.
The Tigers next game will be against the Hornets of Fullerton College on March 15 at 2 p.m.
Miami Heat are out-matched
The super team is not that super after all.
The Miami Heat recently went on a five-game losing streak before braking it against the two-time defending champs this past Thursday.
The Heat are considered a super team with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh but after those three players, the Heat do not have anyone else to fall back on. The team also does not have a center.
Miami is 45-21 and its record against the best teams in the NBA is weak. Only winning two games, both against the Los Angeles Lakers, and losing three to the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics, two against the Dallas Mavericks and one against the San Antonio Spurs.
With two "closers" on the team (James and Wade,) the Heat are only 5-13 in games decided by five points or less.
And James and Wade is 1-12 when games are 3 points or less in the fourth quarter or overtime.
Despite already clinching a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and third in the East at this moment, the Heat are not being counted on to come out of the East.
Without a center and inconsistent production from its bench, the Heat are not making the NBA finals this season.
0-6 against the two teams ahead of them (Boston and Chicago,) the Heat are not going to be favorites to defeat them.
If the Heat end up as the No. 4 seed in the East and the New York Knicks end up as the No. 5 seed in the East, then the Heat are not going to be able to get out of the first round because the Knicks are capable of upsetting the Heat in the playoff series.
The super team is more like a three man band.
The Miami Heat recently went on a five-game losing streak before braking it against the two-time defending champs this past Thursday.
The Heat are considered a super team with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh but after those three players, the Heat do not have anyone else to fall back on. The team also does not have a center.
Miami is 45-21 and its record against the best teams in the NBA is weak. Only winning two games, both against the Los Angeles Lakers, and losing three to the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics, two against the Dallas Mavericks and one against the San Antonio Spurs.
With two "closers" on the team (James and Wade,) the Heat are only 5-13 in games decided by five points or less.
And James and Wade is 1-12 when games are 3 points or less in the fourth quarter or overtime.
Despite already clinching a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and third in the East at this moment, the Heat are not being counted on to come out of the East.
Without a center and inconsistent production from its bench, the Heat are not making the NBA finals this season.
0-6 against the two teams ahead of them (Boston and Chicago,) the Heat are not going to be favorites to defeat them.
If the Heat end up as the No. 4 seed in the East and the New York Knicks end up as the No. 5 seed in the East, then the Heat are not going to be able to get out of the first round because the Knicks are capable of upsetting the Heat in the playoff series.
The super team is more like a three man band.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Kobe Bryant continues to break records
This season has been a marvelous season for Kobe Bryant on the all-time NBA scoring list.
Bryant has jumped over multiple players including Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Robertson, Dominique Wilkins and John Havlicek.
The next person ahead of Bryant on the all-time scoring list is a former teammate, the player who he won three straight NBA title with, the one and only, Shaquille O'Neal.
But the question remains, can Bryant do the unthinkable and eventually become the overall all-time scorer in NBA history?
The challenge is difficult but if Bryant can remain healthy and have consistent seasons for another four seasons then Bryant will be knocking on the door.
Bryant currently has 27,447 points and is 10,910 points behind the all-time scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
With the injuries he has to his fingers and the looming questions if his knees are fine, the question remains how long does Bryant have until his prime begins to decease.
Bryant is only 32-years-old and is in his 15 season in the NBA. Only time will tell when Bryant will begin to decrease. Signs show of old age but there are times when Bryant looks young.
No matter what anyone says Bryant still dominates the league and continues to show greatness as he runs pass former hall of fame players on the all-time scoring list.
Bryant will go down as one of the all-time greatest players in the NBA if he or does not conquer the all-time scoring list.
Bryant has jumped over multiple players including Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Robertson, Dominique Wilkins and John Havlicek.
The next person ahead of Bryant on the all-time scoring list is a former teammate, the player who he won three straight NBA title with, the one and only, Shaquille O'Neal.
But the question remains, can Bryant do the unthinkable and eventually become the overall all-time scorer in NBA history?
The challenge is difficult but if Bryant can remain healthy and have consistent seasons for another four seasons then Bryant will be knocking on the door.
Bryant currently has 27,447 points and is 10,910 points behind the all-time scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
With the injuries he has to his fingers and the looming questions if his knees are fine, the question remains how long does Bryant have until his prime begins to decease.
Bryant is only 32-years-old and is in his 15 season in the NBA. Only time will tell when Bryant will begin to decrease. Signs show of old age but there are times when Bryant looks young.
No matter what anyone says Bryant still dominates the league and continues to show greatness as he runs pass former hall of fame players on the all-time scoring list.
Bryant will go down as one of the all-time greatest players in the NBA if he or does not conquer the all-time scoring list.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tigers dominated by Santa Ana
In a matchup between two of the top teams in the Orange Empire Conference the Riverside City Tigers were outclassed by the Dons of Santa Ana by a final score of 11-1 at Evans Field.
Both teams came into Thursday’s game with unblemished 3-0 records in the conference and looking to make the statement that they were the team to beat this year in the Orange Empire Conference. Santa Ana entered play ranked number one in the state in men’s baseball and were also looking to extend on a six game winning streak. RCC came into the game on a tear of their own that had seen them win four straight games, scoring 43 runs in the process.
Santa Ana right fielder Gary Apelian started the scoring off for the Dons with an RBI double in the top of the fourth inning. The floodgates opened from there as the Dons would go on to score seven unanswered runs before RCC was finally able to stop the bleeding in the bottom of the sixth inning when Tigers catcher Billy Nottingham was able to safely cross the plate on a fielder’s choice. Unfortunately for RCC, it would turn out to be their only score of the game.
Santa Ana would tack on three more runs in the seventh and eighth innings, including an inside the park home run by designated hitter Taylor Richardson. to make the victory even more impressive. The win moved Santa Ana manager Don Sneddon to within one win of his 1,000th career victory.
Ben Burke (3-1) collected the win for Santa Ana, scattering 110 pitches in just over 6 innings of work. Jordan Mejia, who fell to 1-1 on the season, was able to last just 3.2 innings before giving way to relief pitcher Mike Mudron.
After the game a visibly frustrated RCC manager Dennis Rogers commented that his team was “overmatched today” before bringing the squad back on the field for a team meeting.
Even with the loss RCC remains just a game behind Santa Ana in the conference standings with two games remaining against the Dons to avenge this crushing defeat and try to maintain pace in the race for the Orange Empire Conference crown.
Both teams came into Thursday’s game with unblemished 3-0 records in the conference and looking to make the statement that they were the team to beat this year in the Orange Empire Conference. Santa Ana entered play ranked number one in the state in men’s baseball and were also looking to extend on a six game winning streak. RCC came into the game on a tear of their own that had seen them win four straight games, scoring 43 runs in the process.
Santa Ana right fielder Gary Apelian started the scoring off for the Dons with an RBI double in the top of the fourth inning. The floodgates opened from there as the Dons would go on to score seven unanswered runs before RCC was finally able to stop the bleeding in the bottom of the sixth inning when Tigers catcher Billy Nottingham was able to safely cross the plate on a fielder’s choice. Unfortunately for RCC, it would turn out to be their only score of the game.
Santa Ana would tack on three more runs in the seventh and eighth innings, including an inside the park home run by designated hitter Taylor Richardson. to make the victory even more impressive. The win moved Santa Ana manager Don Sneddon to within one win of his 1,000th career victory.
Ben Burke (3-1) collected the win for Santa Ana, scattering 110 pitches in just over 6 innings of work. Jordan Mejia, who fell to 1-1 on the season, was able to last just 3.2 innings before giving way to relief pitcher Mike Mudron.
After the game a visibly frustrated RCC manager Dennis Rogers commented that his team was “overmatched today” before bringing the squad back on the field for a team meeting.
Even with the loss RCC remains just a game behind Santa Ana in the conference standings with two games remaining against the Dons to avenge this crushing defeat and try to maintain pace in the race for the Orange Empire Conference crown.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tigers come out on top in conference slugfest
The Riverside City College Tigers were able to overcome some inconsistent fielding Thursday night in Irvine defeating Irvine Valley College by a score of 10-9 continuing their hot conference start.
The win was the Tigers fourth in a row, third straight in conference play, and again featured an explosive offensive outburst which has been the biggest reason for the team’s success since conference play began.
The first inning featured a plethora of runs for both teams with RCC getting the game off to a fast start by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. The highlight of the inning for the Tigers was a three run bomb by short stop David Kiriakos, his first on the season.
Irvine answered quickly by pushing four runners across the plate in the bottom half of the inning, but not without a little help from some shoddy defensive play by the RCC defense. All four of Irvine’s runs in the inning were unearned. This fact wasn’t enough to save Tigers starter Kyle McNutt from falling victim to a quick hook from manager Dennis Rogers. McNutt would face 11 batters in his one inning of work while allowing no earned runs.
The third inning featured more miscues for the Tigers pitcher Brain Hopper found himself guilty of two balks; both which allowed runs to score. A double from Irvine’s right field Bryan Glynn would give Irvine a two run lead.
The win was the Tigers fourth in a row, third straight in conference play, and again featured an explosive offensive outburst which has been the biggest reason for the team’s success since conference play began.
The first inning featured a plethora of runs for both teams with RCC getting the game off to a fast start by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. The highlight of the inning for the Tigers was a three run bomb by short stop David Kiriakos, his first on the season.
Irvine answered quickly by pushing four runners across the plate in the bottom half of the inning, but not without a little help from some shoddy defensive play by the RCC defense. All four of Irvine’s runs in the inning were unearned. This fact wasn’t enough to save Tigers starter Kyle McNutt from falling victim to a quick hook from manager Dennis Rogers. McNutt would face 11 batters in his one inning of work while allowing no earned runs.
The third inning featured more miscues for the Tigers pitcher Brain Hopper found himself guilty of two balks; both which allowed runs to score. A double from Irvine’s right field Bryan Glynn would give Irvine a two run lead.
Chad Erickson provided the Tigers with a spark in the top of the fourth, crushing a pitch from Irvine starter Cody Fitzgerald over the wall for his second home run of the season, driving in two Tiger runs in the process and tying the game at six.
After a top of the sixth inning in which it looked like RCC may have finally put Irvine away by taking a two run lead, the Tigers again were plagued by errors in the field allowing their opponents back into the game.
After reaching on an error by RCC third baseman Curtis Cassise, Irvine center fielder Robert Dey stole second base and later scored on an RBI triple off the bat of second baseman Scott Kaplan. Kaplan would later score on a sacrifice fly, once again tying the game.
The two teams would remain scoreless from that point on until the top of the ninth inning when RCC would finally score the deciding run as Michael Castello was able to cross the plate on a fielder’s choice.
Kristopher Butler (3-0) collected the win for the Tigers allowing only one hit over three innings played. Brendan Cates (2-1) allowed six earned runs over five and two-thirds innings pitched.
Chad Erickson led the Tigers offensive attack by going 4-for-6 and driving in three runs. Kiriakos also added three runs batted in, all by way of his home run in the first.
The Tigers will next face off against the Santa Ana Dons, who are currently the top ranked team in the state, on March 10th at Evans field in Riverside in a battle for Orange Empire Conference supremecy.
After a top of the sixth inning in which it looked like RCC may have finally put Irvine away by taking a two run lead, the Tigers again were plagued by errors in the field allowing their opponents back into the game.
After reaching on an error by RCC third baseman Curtis Cassise, Irvine center fielder Robert Dey stole second base and later scored on an RBI triple off the bat of second baseman Scott Kaplan. Kaplan would later score on a sacrifice fly, once again tying the game.
The two teams would remain scoreless from that point on until the top of the ninth inning when RCC would finally score the deciding run as Michael Castello was able to cross the plate on a fielder’s choice.
Kristopher Butler (3-0) collected the win for the Tigers allowing only one hit over three innings played. Brendan Cates (2-1) allowed six earned runs over five and two-thirds innings pitched.
Chad Erickson led the Tigers offensive attack by going 4-for-6 and driving in three runs. Kiriakos also added three runs batted in, all by way of his home run in the first.
The Tigers will next face off against the Santa Ana Dons, who are currently the top ranked team in the state, on March 10th at Evans field in Riverside in a battle for Orange Empire Conference supremecy.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Running with the Bulls
With the return of Joakim Noah, the Chicago Bulls are the team to beat in the NBA Eastern Conference.
With the championship caliber coaching of Tom Thibodeau (who is my Coach of the Year) and leadership of third year point guard Derrick Rose (who is my season's Most Valuable Player,) the Bulls are favorites to make it out of the East.
Chicago is 39-17 on the season and recently got Noah back into the line-up and the Bulls are no where near of slowing down their pace.
Thus far the team is third in the East and two and a half behind No. 1 seed, the Boston Celtics and two back of the Miami Heat, who the Bulls defeated tonight, 93-89.
Alongside Rose and Noah is a solid supporting cast that includes Carlos Boozer, Kyle Klover, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Ronnie Brewer.
In a recent video from "Bballbreakdown" it shows how the supporting cast is benefiting from the coaching of Thibodeau and leadership of Rose.
Deng has improved his shooting based on the Bulls' team defense that leads to great team offense.
The other supporting cast held the fort down during the absents of Noah and now with Noah back from his injury, the Bulls are lead contenders in the East and are capable of defeating the Celtics and Heat in a seven-game series.
As said in the "Bballbreakdown" video, the Bulls are contenders now.
With the championship caliber coaching of Tom Thibodeau (who is my Coach of the Year) and leadership of third year point guard Derrick Rose (who is my season's Most Valuable Player,) the Bulls are favorites to make it out of the East.
Chicago is 39-17 on the season and recently got Noah back into the line-up and the Bulls are no where near of slowing down their pace.
Thus far the team is third in the East and two and a half behind No. 1 seed, the Boston Celtics and two back of the Miami Heat, who the Bulls defeated tonight, 93-89.
Alongside Rose and Noah is a solid supporting cast that includes Carlos Boozer, Kyle Klover, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Ronnie Brewer.
In a recent video from "Bballbreakdown" it shows how the supporting cast is benefiting from the coaching of Thibodeau and leadership of Rose.
Deng has improved his shooting based on the Bulls' team defense that leads to great team offense.
The other supporting cast held the fort down during the absents of Noah and now with Noah back from his injury, the Bulls are lead contenders in the East and are capable of defeating the Celtics and Heat in a seven-game series.
As said in the "Bballbreakdown" video, the Bulls are contenders now.
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