Saddleback’s Cunerty Named Top Coach

Coach Bill Cunerty, who led Saddleback to an 11-0 record and a share of a national title, was selected the community college football coach of the year by American Football Quarterly, a trade journal.

Cunerty took over at Saddleback two seasons ago after 14 as an assistant. His first team finished 8-3 and this season the Gauchos won the Mission Conference Central Division title and the state title.

Saddleback and Blinn (Texas) shared the top spot in the USA Today poll this season. Blinn was No. 1 and Saddleback No. 2 in the J.C. Grid-Wire rankings.

The football team has won its last 17 games under Cunerty.

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Break time: The men’s and women’s basketball teams start play in Orange Empire Conference games Jan. 8, meaning most have about eight days off before the start of conference play.

The long break won’t bother Saddleback men’s Coach Bill Brummel.

“That’s OK,” he said. “I like practice. The kids might not, but I do.”

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Moving on: Two members of the Rancho Santiago baseball team have signed with four-year colleges.

Kevin Duck, a left-handed hitting first baseman, is going to Cal State Fullerton and Jeff Bowman, a right-hander who pitched mostly in relief last season, is going to the University of San Francisco.

Both will play for Rancho Santiago this spring. The Dons have won two consecutive state titles and three of the last four.