Fullerton’s Schmidt; GWC’s Salmon, Ramos, highlight 2024 All-OEC Team​

There was a ton of green and gold highlighting this year's All-Orange Empire Conference Team as the conference-champion, Golden West College, earned several top spots, including Pitcher of the Year.  Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year, among others.

As chosen by the head coaches of all eight OEC teams, GWC sophomore righty Alex Ramos was named the OEC Pitcher of the Year, while Rustler teammate, sophomore outfielder Jack Salmon, earned OEC MVP.

Salmon put up impressive numbers all season long, but especially in the OEC, where he batted .354 with 29 hits, 13 extra-base hits (including eight home runs) and 25 RBI in just 21 games played. For the season, Salmon hit .347 with 51 hits, 41 runs, 11 HR and 40 RBI. His eight conference HR led all OEC batters and he finished tied with teammate Zech Samayoa for the conference lead in RBI with 25.

Joining Salmon atop the MVP mountain is Fullerton College's Trevor Schmidt, who batted .333 in conference play with 27 hits, 20 runs, 17 extra-base hits, six HR and 25 RBI. His .716 slugging percentage was second-best in conference among all hitters.

Ramos was lights out for the Rustlers in OEC play, going 6-1 with a 3.03 ERA, allowing just 12 earned runs over 35 2/3 innings with 34 strikeouts. For the season, Ramos went 9-2 with four saves and a 1.90 ERA with 90 strikeouts over just 66 1/3 innings of work. His six OEC wins led all pitchers, while his 34 strikeouts were fifth-most among all OEC hurlers.

Joining Salmon and Ramos on the first-team, All-OEC squad from GWC included Samayoa (.318, 28 hits, 7 HR, 25 RBI) and leadoff hitter Kaleb Duncan (.374, conference-best 34 hits, 23 runs, 16 RBI, 10 stolen bases). 

GWC head coach, Andrew Ramos, was named the OEC Coach of the Year after guiding the Rustlers to the Orange Empire Conference championship for the first time since 2015 and only the second time over the past 20 years.

Defending state champion and this year's OEC runner-up, Santa Ana, earned four first-team players, including pitcher Jaxton Andeel (3-1, 3.63 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings), sophomore Thomas Williams (.367, 29 hits, 14 RBI), Matthew Dobson (.300, 24 hits, 3 HR, 20 RBI) and outfielder Jimmy DeAnda (.376, 32 hits, 30 runs scored).

2024 ALL-ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE TEAM

​​Release by Tony Altobelli, Orange Coast