Valenzuela Leads Ambush of Tigers Earning OEC Honors
Riverside City College's Jake Valenzuela was named the Orange Empire Conference Pitcher of the Year, while eight other Tigers grabbed all-conference honors. Erik Rodriguez, Jorge Rodriguez, Ian Nguyen, Bubba Heidler, and Parker Sobiesiak earned first team recognition, while Evan Stratton, Darin Osterloh, and Malakai Lopez picked up second team distinction.
Valenzuela went undefeated on the mound in conference action (6-0) and boasts a 7-2 record heading into the postseason. In 63.2 innings pitched, the freshman right-handed pitcher has struck out 62 batters, which tops the OEC, and has a 2.54 ERA. Earlier this year, Valenzuela shut out then-ranked No. 3 Saddleback College with a 6-0, complete-game victory on the road.
Erik Rodriguez boasts the best ERA on the mound for RCC with a 2.08, which ranks second in the OEC. The freshman right-handed pitcher boasts a 2-0 record with three saves heading into the postseason.
Jorge Rodriguez has made 13 appearances as a freshman left-handed pitcher for the Tigers, boasting an 8-3 record on the mound. In 68.2 innings pitched, he has 57 strikeouts and boasts a 2.62 ERA.
Nguyen leads the Tigers with a .373 batting average, which ranks sixth in the conference. The sophomore catcher has 47 hits on the year, including six doubles, three triples, and a home run, and also has 16 walks. He has batted in 31 runners and scored 31 times himself.
Heidler isn't far behind Nguyen with a .360 average (11th in the OEC), knocking eight doubles, one triple, and a home run so far. He has 43 runs scored and 29 RBIs, along with 12 stolen bases.
Sobiesiak heads into the postseason batting .344 with seven doubles and three triples. The sophomore outfielder has scored 15 runs for the Tigers while batting in another 24. Defensively, he has 34 putouts and one assist.
Stratton is second on the team with a 2.54 ERA heading into the postseason. The freshman right-handed pitcher has established himself as a top closer for the Tigers and has four saves under his belt. In 46.0 innings pitched, Stratton has struck out 43 batters.
Osterloh worked his way into the starting lineup and has been a consistent factor in Riverside's success. The freshman infielder boasts a .314 batting average with three doubles and three triples, while scoring 22 runs and batting in 12 RBIs. He has also drawn 16 walks and has five stolen bases.
In 29 games, Lopez has scored 19 times and batted in seven RBIs. The freshman has a .273 batting average after the regular season, with three stolen bases.
The Tigers host the first round of the 3C2A SoCal Regional this weekend against Antelope Valley College, with the first game set for 2 p.m. on Friday. The best-of-three series will conclude Saturday, with Game 2 at 1 p.m. and, if needed, a third game following approximately 30 minutes after Game 2 ends.