Hancock Baseball's Spring Classic Features Seven Ranked Teams, Three-Day Invitational Runs March 27-29

The Allan Hancock College baseball team welcomes six regionally ranked teams, three ranked among the top 15 in the state, during its annual Spring Classic this week. The three-day tournament runs Tuesday, March 27 through Thursday, March 29. The classic includes games at Hancock's John Osborne Field, Elks Field in Santa Maria, Cuesta College and Sinsheimer Stadium in San Luis Obispo.

Hancock enters the tournament with a 13-12 overall record. The Bulldogs open at 3 p.m. against East L.A. on Tuesday. Hancock, ranked No. 12 in the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association's South Regional Poll, is riding a two-game winning streak into the classic.

The field includes East L.A. (15-11); Cuesta, (12-11) ranked No. 17 in South Regional; Cerritos, (18-6) ranked No. 5 in the state and No. 2 in the South; Cypress, (17-8) ranked No. 7 in the state and No. 7 in South; College of the Canyons, (15-9) ranked No 9 in South; Merced, (16-7) ranked No. 13 in the state and No. 5 in North; and Fresno City, (16-9) tabbed No. 8 in North.

East L.A. is the only unranked team in the field. All eight teams enter the tournament at least one game above .500.

Among the players to watch this week are Cypress catcher Dominic Campeau, who is hitting .445 with a state-leading 49 hits, 46 RBI and 13 doubles; Jacob Lopez, a left-handed pitcher from Canyons, who leads the state with 79 strikeouts in 57 innings; Cuesta's Andrew Navigato, who is hitting .394 with five home runs and 30 RBI; Hancock's Jake Shusterich, a freshman hitting .403 with five home runs and 25 RBI; and Cypress' Greg Lamb, who boasts a .408 batting average and .574 on-base percentage.

Spring Classic Schedule
Tuesday, March 27
2 p.m. Cypress @ Cuesta
2 p.m. Merced vs. Canyons @ Elks Field
3 p.m. East L.A. @ Hancock (Note: moved back 30 minutes from original start time)
6 p.m. Cerritos vs. Fresno @ Elks Field

Wednesday, March 28
11 a.m. Cypress vs. Canyons @ Cuesta
1 p.m. Fresno @ Hancock
1 p.m. Merced vs. East L.A. @ Elks Field
2:30 p.m. Cerritos @ Cuesta

Thursday, March 29
11:30 a.m.  Cerritos @ Hancock
12 p.m.  Merced @ Cuesta
12 p.m.  East L.A. vs. Canyons @ Elks Field
12 p.m.  Fresno vs. Cypress @ Sinsheimer Stadium