J J Thobe

J.J. Thobe didn't accomplish anything outstanding as a pitcher for the Santa Ana Cardinals this summer. He didn't pitch a no-hitter or even a shutout for the Cardinals, a team of mostly college-age athletes who played a free-lance schedule. His greatest feat was pitching three consecutive innings, hardly big news for most pitchers. In Thobe's case, however, it's another impressive step as he continues his way back from shoulder surgery he underwent in May, 1990.

J.J. Thobe didn't accomplish anything outstanding as a pitcher for the Santa Ana Cardinals this summer. He didn't pitch a no-hitter or even a shutout for the Cardinals, a team of mostly college-age athletes who played a free-lance schedule. His greatest feat was pitching three consecutive innings, hardly big news for most pitchers. In Thobe's case, however, it's another impressive step as he continues his way back from shoulder surgery he underwent in May, 1990.

Rancho Santiago pitcher J.J. Thobe has signed a letter of intent with Pepperdine. Thobe, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound sophomore from Edison High School, was an All-Orange Empire Conference selection for a second consecutive season. He finished 9-4 with a 2.31 earned-run average for the Dons.

Daniel Hernandez hit a solo home run in the third inning to give Ocean View High School a 2-1 victory over Edison in a Sunset League baseball game Saturday at Edison. Hernandez's home run put Ocean View (15-5 overall, 9-0 in league) ahead, 2-0. Jon Arnold had a run-scoring double in the second to give the Seahawks a 1-0 lead. Catcher J.J. Thobe had a solo home run in the third for Edison (13-6, 4-5).

Orange Empire Conference baseball coaches have voted Raul Rodarte of Rancho Santiago College player of the year. Rodarte, a sophomore shortstop, hit .385 overall and .426 in 24 conference games for the Dons, who won the title for the second consecutive year and third time in four seasons. Rodarte had 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 15 stolen bases and 49 runs batted in. Don Sneddon of Rancho Santiago was named coach of the year.

Rancho Santiago defeated Golden West, 7-3, Tuesday to increase its lead to 2 1/2 games over second-place Riverside in the Orange Empire Conference baseball standings. Jay Hassel (3-1) pitched 7 1/3 innings for the victory and J.J. Thobe struck out two in the final 1 2/3 innings to earn his ninth save for the visiting Dons (33-7, 14-5 in conference). Raul Rodarte's two-run double in the sixth gave Rancho Santiago a 5-2 lead, and Steve Grack added a first-inning home run.

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.

Part of Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon's plan worked when David Goldstein pitched a complete-game victory. It just came a day earlier than Sneddon would have liked. Sneddon figured Goldstein would pitch the title game of the Southern California Regional playoffs today at Los Angeles Pierce College. But when the Dons lost the Saturday morning game to L.A. Pierce, Goldstein was needed in the afternoon. He pitched a six-hitter as the Dons eliminated Mt. San Antonio, 11-2.

Kent Dowding struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings as Rancho Santiago defeated Orange Coast, 5-3, in an Orange Empire Conference game Saturday at Orange Coast College. Dowding allowed seven hits and walked four, but Orange Coast stranded 12 runners; OCC loaded the bases twice and failed to score. Robin Lindsey hit a bases-empty home run in the fourth inning to give Rancho Santiago (31-6, 13-3) a 3-0 lead.

Mike Fontana, a sophomore right-hander from Rancho Santiago College, was named the co-most valuable player of Southern California on Monday. Fontana (12-1) was selected along with outfielder Joey Arnold of Los Angeles Pierce. Infielder Chris Saunders of Fresno City was selected the MVP of Northern California. The MVPs from each region are considered the most valuable players of the state as well. Daniel Hernandez, a middle infielder from Orange Coast who hit .