Saddleback to host OCC in opening series

The Saddleback baseball team learned its playoff fate on Sunday and will host Orange Coast College in the opening round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs, starting on Friday.  The Bobcats (24-15) and Pirates (16-24) are 2-of-7 teams from the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) to qualify for the playoffs.

Saddleback was named the No. 5 seed for the tournament while Orange Coast was named the No. 20 seed.  The Bobcats finished tied for second in the Orange Empire Conference while the Pirates were tied for fifth.

Orange Coast took 2-of-3 games from Saddleback this season, winning the opening two games of the series (9-8, 8-1) before the Bobcats bounced back to take the final game (15-3). 

The two teams have a massive history as Friday's opening game with be the 150^th meeting.  Orange Coast holds an 83-66 advantage in the lifetime series.  The only programs Saddleback has played more times in its history are Riverside City (166), Santa Ana (166), Cypress (155) and Golden West (151). 

Five other programs from the OEC qualified for the regional playoffs.  Golden West College (28-12) was named the 3-seed and will host San Diego City College (22-18).  Santa Ana College (28-11-1) was named the 6-seed and will host El Camino College (21-19).  Fullerton College (23-17) garnered the 9-seed and will host Pasadena City College (23-16).  Riverside City (25-15) was named the 13-seed and will travel to Chaffey College (27-13).  Cypress College was named the 21-seed and will travel to Los Angeles Valley College (34-6).