Community College Southern California Baseball Regionals : Cypress Splits, Must Beat Harbor Twice Today

Cypress College went from being unable to get an extra-base hit Saturday to getting more than it needed as the Chargers split a pair of games in the Southern California Tournament Regional at Rancho Santiago.

Cypress was held to 10 singles in a 7-3 loss in the morning to Los Angles Harbor, but the Chargers came back with three home runs, a triple and a double among 18 hits to defeat Palomar, 18-8. The loss eliminated Palomar (22-17-1).

Cypress (33-14) now has to defeat Harbor twice today to reach the state tournament. If Harbor (31-13) wins, the Sea Hawks are headed for Sacramento May 26-28.

The teams will play at 11 a.m. and if Cypress wins, a second game will follow 30 minutes later.

“Well, at least we can come back for at least another day,” Cypress Coach Scott Pickler said. “We’re going to see if we can battle now.”

Cypress was trailing, 5-4, going into the fourth inning of the Palomar game when Mitch Kaylor walked. Steve Gill doubled down the right-field line, and then Palomar intentionally walked Jason Friedman.

But Doug Yates hit a towering grand slam down the left-field line off Palomar reliever Adrian Lopez to give Cypress an 8-5 lead. Friedman hit a three-run home run in the fifth as Cypress scored six more runs to take a 14-5 lead. It was the sixth home run for Yates and 11th for Friedman.

Cypress added three more runs in the sixth to take a 17-5 lead. That allowed Pickler to avoid overextending Rich Lodding (8-2), who got the victory in relief. He had to pitch only 2 1/3 innings and threw only 30 pitches.

Cypress’ situation today isn’t great, but at least the Chargers have a strong Lodding for one start. Dennis Burbank lasted only 4 2/3 innings in the loss to Harbor, but he could also ome back.

Ken Tolbert who allowed no runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief behind Burbank Saturday, could also be used. Jeff Patterson, who pitched 11 innings in a 4-3 victory over Rancho Santiago Friday, could also pitch.

“I don’t know who we’ll pitch,” Pickler said. “It depends on who’s healthy. I know one thing, there will be a lot of pitchers coming through the door tomorrow who want the ball. We have a very competitive staff.”

Gill led Cypress in the Palomar game with five hits. He also scored three runs. Friedman, Yates, Joey Gonzalez and Ken Kendrena all had two hits. Gonzalez also had a solo home run, his fourth.

In earlier games Saturday:

Los Angeles Harbor 7, Cypress 3--Harbor got seven consecutive hits off Burbank (12-5) to start the fifth and scored seven runs. Burbank made an error to allow the first run to score, then Frank Fields had an RBI single, George Baker had an RBI double, Ryan Karp singled in two runs and David Kushan had a two-run double to chase Burbank.

Burbank had allowed just one hit and had four strikeouts in the first four innings. Cypress scored three runs in the first on RBI singles by Friedman and Yates and and a throwing error by Harbor catcher Gus Mangaray.

Cypress left the bases loaded in the first, two runners in the second, one in the third and fourth and two in the fifth.

Harbor starter Pat Ahearne (10-4) retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced. Gill had a bunt single in the ninth but never got to second.

Palomar 3, Rancho Santiago 1--Mark Ringkamp (14-2) pitched a six-hitter as Palomar eliminated Rancho Santiago (29-17) from the playoffs. It was the 14th consecutive victory for Ringkamp. Conrad Colby had three hits for Rancho Santiago, which scored in the ninth. Harvey Cotton hit into a double play to end the game. Chris Floth (0-2) took the loss despite allowing only one earned run in five innings.