Golden West (9-6, 1-2 OEC) took a 4-0 lead after 2-1/2 innings, including three unearned runs in the top of the third, before the Tigers came back in the bottom of the seventh.

With one out, sophomore DH Chris Hass dumped a single into right-center field. Freshman C Mike Denucci followed with a ground-ball single through the left side. Sophomore LF Wynton Bernard parachuted a single just inside the right-field line to load the bases. With two outs, freshman infielder Curtis Cassise a walk to force in the Tigers’ first run. Freshman 2B Billy Nottingham bounding ball up the middle that GWC starter LHP Mark Trentacosta slowed just enough that SS Michael Syrett couldn’t nab Nottingham at first, driving in another run.  Freshman RF Frankie Torres then drilled a double off the glove of Rustler 3B A.J. Bayus that then squirted into foul territory as the Tigers tied the game at 4-4.

In the bottom of the 11^th inning, Cassise singled to third base and wound up at second when the errant throw sailed down the right-field line. Freshman pinch-hitter Michael Castello was intentionally walked. Sophomore pinch-hitter Brandon Day reached first base on a sacrifice bunt when Bayus elected to try for the force at third base, but his throw was late to load the bases. Up stepped freshman CF Aaron Lafountaine who then delivered a blooping single over the shortstop’s head into short left-center field to drive in the winning run. It marked the second straight home game that Lafountaine had the game-winning RBI in extra innings.

As has been the case lately for home games, the contest moved quickly through the first six innings, as it took only 1:28, but 1:49 to play the final five frames.

RCC closer, freshman RHP Devin Johnson, improved to 2-0 with a spotless 11^th and GWC reliever Blake Cster (0-4), who logged the final out in the bottom of the tenth, was tagged with the loss.

Rustlers return to OEC action on Tuesday, Mar. 9, at 2 p.m. where they will host the Santa Ana College Dons.

Rustler’s pitcher Chris Devenski gave his team exactly what they needed – an 8 run lead going into the 9th inning.  Coach Villarreal pulled Devenski prior to the 9th inning where he only allowed 4 hits and faced 28 batters.  Rustlers brought in their closer Josh Jones who was unable to hold the defending state champions scoreless, allowed 3 runs and 3 hits before sending visiting Orange Coast College packing.

Golden West opened up the scoring in the 3rd inning where Colin Hoffman singled, Mario Gordon reached on a fielder’s choice only to have Hoffman safe on second.  Alex Rosales singled and drove in Hoffman.  Brent Tani singled and advanced to second on the late throw home to a scoring Gordon.  Continuing with the hitting demonstration, A.J. Bayus singled and drove in Tani and Rosales before the inning was over.  Rustlers took a 4-0 lead.

It was all Golden West in the 4th, scoring 3 more runs as John Spirk singled and proceeded to steal second.  Jordan Tripp walked and then both runners advanced on a ground ball hit by Cody Webber.  They had a little help from Coast’s pitching when a wild pitch scoring one run and moved two runners into scoring position.  Gordon struck out, Alex Rosales reached 1st on a walk.  Then came Brent Tani who’s single drove in Hoffman and Tripp.   Golden West took a 7-0 lead at the end of four innings.

The Rustlers added one more run in the seventh inning, when a lead off double by John Spirk was followed by Jordan Tripp’s double earning Tripp another RBI, and putting Golden West up 8-0.

Coast was finally able to get on the board in the top of the ninth with 2 base hits in a row by Amy, and McMichael followed by a double by Akiyama.  McMichael was able to score on a a ground out to shortstop by McDonald.  The game ended with a pop up to 3rd base by Martin to stop the bleeding.  Rustlers defeat Orange Coast College 8-3.

Golden West begins conference play on March 2nd at 2:00pm as they host Cypress College.

The last time the two squads met was in last season’s state championship final at Irvine Valley College. LBCC took that match 3-1 for the 2009 state title. And early in the season, it looks like the Vikings are well on their way to claiming another state championship.

Freshman outside hitter Matt Taylor led LBCC with 16 kills, three aces, and two blocks while sophomore right side Torand Cheltenham totaled 12 kills and two blocks.

Long Beach returns to action on Wednesday (Feb. 10) when it travels to San Diego Mesa College for a 2 p.m. non-conference match.

David Perez was a freshman player who started as an attacking midfielder and tallied 5 goals and 6 assists on the season. He was named First Team All Conference in his first collegiate season. David will play next year at Cal Poly Pomona where he will study to become an architect.

In the month of November, Castillo led his team to be crowned Orange Empire Conference champions, Southern California champions, and state champions. He scored five goals and had seven assists over three games at the state tournament on his way to being named state MVP.

Castillo earned All-American honors for the second year in a row, and was named the 2009 Southern California and Orange Empire Conference Player of the Year.

Chris Spencer’s two-point conversion run in overtime pushed Golden West past Ventura, 37-36, in the Orange County Rooster Bowl at LeBard Stadium.

Playing in their 1st bowl game since 1975, Rustlers extended their winning streak to 7 games, finishing the season 7-4.

Leading 26-29 in the final seconds, Ventura College’s Quarterback was tackled out of bounds with no time on the clock on the Golden West 27-yard line.

But a personal foul gave the Pirates an untimed down on the Rustlers 12, which enabled Tyler Stampler to force overtime by converting a 30-yard field goal.

On the first possession of overtime, Sims found tight end Michael Holcomb for an 11-yard touchdown pass. But Golden West matched that score with a 23-yard Mike VanDeripe strike to Matt James.

Golden West kicker Eric Torres was roughed on the extra point and Nick Mitchell elected to give Spencer the chance to decide the game from a yard-and-a-half away.

VanDeripe completed 21 of 35 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted in the first half by Ventura’s Chad Kurz, Deslonde Brown and Darryl Simmons, but played a flawless second half, which included a rumbling 22-yard touchdown run through the Pirates’ secondary, which gave the Rustlers their 29-26 lead with 26 seconds to play.

Ventura had already made a pair of comebacks.

Trailing 14-7 at the half, Ventura running back Dominic Morris gained 15 and 19 yards before his 6-yard touchdown run pulled the Pirates even 14-14 with 11:00 left in the third quarter.

After Spencer’s 3-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-two allowed Golden West to reclaim the lead, Sims found Karam for a 14-yard touchdown pass on third-and-13 to tie the score, 21-21, with 8:45 to play.

Four plays later, Golden West snapped the ball out of the end zone in a punting situation to hand Ventura a 23-21 lead.

But that was only the beginning of a wild finish. Sims followed with a potential clinching 5-yard touchdown pass to Rafael Washington, but the tight end was judged to have stepped out of bounds in the back of the end zone. Stampler was forced to kick a 23-yard field goal for a 26-21 lead with 3:45 to play.

The Rustlers struck first with a goal by Sophomore Nate Castillo with just 30 seconds into the game.  In the next 3 minutes, Golden West built their lead to 3-0 with two power play goals from Colin McKibbin and Rex Learmouth.

Long Beach found themselves down three, but with 3:23 remaining in the first quarter, Daniel Lunga beat Golden West’s goalie Robby Poyton near side off a cross pass from Dusan Ivanovski.  The Rustlers weren’t done yet with :17 seconds remain, sophomore Kevin Hurley broke free on the left side of the pool and scored a spinner lob to put Golden West up 4-1.

Building on the 4-1 lead, Golden West never let up trading goals for the second and third periods and entered the 4th period up 7 to 4.  With great clock management and ball control, the Rustlers became Back-to-Back State Champions defeating Long Beach 7-5.

2009 Men's Water Polo Champions

Not to be outshined by their men’s team, the Lady Rustlers for the first time playing in a State championship game in their home pool went down 0-1 early in the game but were able to tie it up 2-2 before the quarter ended with goals by Jessica Prange and Andrea Artukovich.

Trading goals for most of the game, the Rustlers were able to finally take the lead (4-3) with just 1:57 remaining in the 3rd. With just seconds into the 4th quarter, Long Beach tied the game up at 4-4. Golden West took charge and sealed the game with two more goals by Tamara Towgood and Andrea Artukovich.

Golden West ends the day increasing the number of state championships to 27 for the women’s and men’s program.

Golden West was able to hold that lead through half time as the Rustlers kept nine defenders back against the Dons offense throughout most of the game.

Gerzon Blanco took a pass from Adrian Negrete and beat Rustlers keeper Bill Hambelton to tie the score at 1-1 in the 65th minute. The Rustlers came back in the 78th minute to score again on a goal by David Perez to retake the lead at 2-1.

The Dons had a handful of chances late in the game but it wasn’t until stoppage time that they capitalized. The Rustlers were called for a foul in the box setting up a penalty kick. Marco Ramirez converted the penalty kick to tie the game at 2-2, sending it into overtime.

The first 15 minute overtime period went without a goal but with six minutes left Daniel Ruiz connected with Richard Rivera right in front of the goal and Rivera buried the game-winner, sending the Dons into the third round.