Pirates bash past Vikings in playoff opener

LONG BEACH -- The offense came to life in a big way for the Orange Coast College baseball team as the Pirates cruised past Long Beach City, 18-3, on Friday in the opening game of the Southern California Regional playoffs, played at LBCC's Joe Hicks Memorial Field.

With the win the No. 10-seeded Pirates (22-15) take a 1-0 lead on this best-of-three series with the Vikings (20-17). Game 2 takes place on Saturday at 11 a.m. with a third game (if necessary) to follow immediately afterwards.

Coast pounded out 20 hits and were led by No. 9-hitter Chris Prescott, who went 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. In fact, the 7-8-9 hitters for the Pirates, Prescott, Nick Grimes (3-for-4, one run, three RBI) and Stefan Panayiotou (1-for-4, two runs, two RBI) combined for eight hits, five runs and seven RBI. 

Even after the Pirates called off the dogs and put in reserve players, they also found success at the plate, going a combined 5-for-16 with five runs and seven RBI.

That offensive barrage was more than enough for OCC starter Art Vidrio (8-1), who allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Friday's win was Vidrio's 16th career win, which moves the sophomore lefty ahead of Pirate Hall of Famer Dan Quisenberry for eighth-most in school history, tying him with Chris Licon (2008-09) and Jerry Newman (1961-62).

AROUND THE OEC: Seven teams from the Orange Empire Conference saw playoff action on Friday. Conference-champion and No. 4 seeded Golden West was blanked, 8-0 by No. 13 Cuesta in their best-of-three opener. On the other side of things, No. 17 Irvine Valley used a complete game by Ryan Abady to blank Oxnard, 8-0, in their series opener. No. 11 Saddleback flexed its muscles en route to an 18-8 win over No. 6 San Bernardino Valley, while No. 12 Fullerton upset No. 5Cypress, 6-5, in their opener. No. 18 Riverside will have to win both games today against top-seeded Palomar after a 7-3 setback on Friday.