Jacob Hill inspires Pirates in 4-1 win over San Joaquin Delta in championship semifinals

FRESNO -- With rumors of a "Hill-less" State Final Four for the Orange Coast College baseball team, sophomore lefty Jacob Hill stepped up and left a lasting impression during Sunday's 4-1 win over San Joaquin Delta in the championship semifinals of the California Community College Athletic Association State Baseball Championship.

With twin brother David Hill on the mend with an ankle injury and pitching with a less-than-100% throwing arm, Jacob Hill took the ball for the Pirates (35-9) and held the Mustangs (35-10) to just one run over eight innings in near-100-degree weather at Fresno City College's John Euless Ballpark.

"That's the kind of performance that gets talked about for years and years, long after he's out of this program," OCC head coach John Altobelli said. "He gave us everything he had and then some. We needed him today and he delivered."

Hill (11-0) started for the first time in the playoffs and the rust showed as he allowed a season-high five walks, but he held the Mustangs to just four hits to minimize any type off big inning for Delta's offense. He became the first OCC pitcher to win 11-or-more games without a loss since Jerry Newman went 14-0 back in 1962.

Coast trailed 1-0 in the top of the third when Wyatt Castro picked up an RBI-single, but the Pirates answered back.

After watching baserunners get thrown out at third base and at the plate in the first three innings, slugger Chris Iriart took matters into his own hands and launched a two-run home run off of starter Sean Bennetts (9-3), putting Coast, winners of 14 in a row, ahead for good. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Daniel Delaney singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Broussard, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a squeeze bunt by Jake Thumm, putting the Pirates ahead, 3-1.

Delaney (2-for-4, two runs) doubled to lead off the sixth and, three batters later, Robert Longtree used a well-placed infield single to score his teammate to make it 4-1.

While the Pirates will adding runs, Hill was getting better and better as he retired 12 of the next 14 batters he faced after allowing his lone run of the game.

Spencer Moran earned his fifth save of the season, allowing just one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.

Cody Nulph extended his hitting streak to 29 games and went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while leadoff hitter Cody Bruder went 2-for-4 with a double.

Delta advanced to Monday's championship round after surviving elimination with an 11-3 win over College of the Sequoias in Sunday's nightcap.

The Pirates and Mustangs played for the state championship in 2009, with OCC winning it all for its fourth-ever state baseball championship.