Cypress Hits More Homers; All-Stars Score More Runs : Metropolitan League: Long-ball drought is ended as league champions hit a pair, but their pitchers get hit early in 8-6 defeat at Anaheim Stadium.
In the first 24 Metropolitan League Champions vs. All-Stars games at Anaheim Stadium, a home run was a rarity at best, as a meager six were hit.
Through the years, the most common explanations were the size of the ballpark and the fact that the game is played mostly in twilight, making it hard for the hitters to pick up the ball.
Both theories took a rest Sunday, when three home runs were hit in the All-Stars’ 8-6 victory over the league-champion Cypress Dawgs.
Cypress’ Kevin Cook hit the final home run of the game, a three-run shot in the sixth inning to tie the score at 6-6. Cypress shortstop Troy Babbitt hit a solo homer in the third.
The game’s first home run came off the bat of All-Star Doug Rystrom, who had a three-run shot in the second.
There were also three doubles and a triple as the teams combined for 17 hits.
“I think maybe it’s the (lack of) pitching,” Cypress Coach Scott Pickler said. “How often do you get three balls hit that well?”
Rystrom, an outfielder from the Costa Mesa Vanguards, also had a single and was selected the game’s most valuable player.
Rystrom’s home run was lined into the seats in left field off Ray Winnick and gave the All-Stars a 4-0 lead. James Johnson JOHNSTON??? of the Huntington Beach Rustlers and CURT??? Cult Miltenburger of the Pomona Colts had singled before Rystrom’s at-bat.
“I normally don’t watch the ball when I hit it,” Rystrom said. “But I knew I hit this one pretty well, so I took a look.”
The All-Stars scored in the first inning when Ray Cervantes of the Riverside Cats walked, took second on a error and scored on a single by Keith Laszlo of Costa Mesa.
Cypress got its first run in the third on a home run by the left-handed hitting Babbitt, who drove the ball over the 386-foot mark on the right-center-field wall.
The All-Stars came back to make it 5-1 in the third when Brian Walker of Saddleback scored on an RBI single by Matt Dahlgren of Costa Mesa.
Cypress rallied in the sixth against Huntington Beach Rustler pitcher Jeff Henderson, who allowed hits to all four batters he faced.
Doug McConathy opened the inning with a single. Jason Moler’s single advanced McConathy to second, and he scored on a single by Tom Puppe.
Cook then drove a pitch over the 362-foot sign in left field to tie the score at 5-5.
“I was talking with the plate umpire,” Cook said. “I was swinging pretty well and he told me to just swing easy and the ball would go. It was nice when I hit it; it felt good.”
The All-Stars regained the lead in the seventh. Randy Curtis of Riverside opened with a triple to the wall in left and Riverside teammate Curt Collicott followed with a walk against losing pitcher Brent Parsonage.
David Moore lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center to score Curtis to give the All-Stars a 6-5 lead. Parsonage walked Gerad JERRY??? Cawhorn of Huntington Beach and was replaced by Steve Proffit, who then allowed a two-run double to Walker.
Pat Norville, a left-handed reliever from Saddleback, replaced Henderson after Cook’s home run in the sixth and retired the next six batters for the victory.
“The stands were empty but it felt like it was a sell-out,” Norville said. “I just tried to stay focused. I really wanted to close the game, but this worked out great. What else could I ask for?”
The honor of finishing the game went to Jim Burchit of the Fullerton Blues.
He allowed a run on three walks and a wild pitch in the eighth but after giving up a one-out single, retired Cypress in the ninth to preserve the All-Stars’ victory.
Metropolitan League Notes
Jason Moler of Cypress was presented the most valuable player and top hitter awards before the game, when the league announced its annual honors. Moler, who will be a junior at the University of Illinois this fall, hit .543 for Cypress. He had five home runs, eight doubles and 18 RBIs. His batting average is the second highest in league history. Steve Pajeck of the Pomona Colts hit .571 in 1988. Moler was two for four Sunday, but struck out to end the game. Jim Burchit of Fullerton, who was 3-1 with a 2.29 earned-run average, was selected the outstanding pitcher. Buster Nietzke of Saddleback was given the outstanding hustle award. Ray Cervantes of Riverside won the outstanding defensive player award. He committed no errors in 80 chances this season. . . . The victory by the All-Stars gives them a 13-11 lead in the series. There has been one tie.