EMPIRE LEAGUE SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Cypress Coach Shows Up in Time for Victory

Janelle Frese, the Cypress High School softball coach, seemed relaxed before Thursday’s Empire League game against Katella.

But Frese, who missed the team bus and arrived at the field 45 minutes before the game, hid her emotions well. And so did her players, who calmly defeated Katella, 8-0, at Boysen Park.

“I was so angry,” Frese said. “I teach at another school and the bus driver didn’t pick me up there when I felt it was important for me to ride on the bus with my players after yesterday’s loss against Mater Dei.”

No. 3 Cypress (11-2, 2-0 in league) opened the scoring in the second inning when senior Kim Hutcherson, who went three for four with three runs batted in, hit a three-run home run, giving Cypress a 3-0 lead.

Sophomore Christa Saindon added a run when she scored on an error in the second to give the Centurions a 4-0 lead.

Katella (6-6-1, 0-2) had chances to score. Monica Jimenez, who pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts, ended a Katella threat in the fourth when she struck out Andy Gumina with runners on second and third.

In the fifth, with Cypress leading, 8-0, Katella loaded the bases, but Lauri Rossini was picked off first base.

“Monica was on her game today--she gave up maybe one solid hit,” Frese said. “Katella is a real smart hitting team, and the key for us was staying positive and being confident that the energy was there.”

In other league games:

Los Alamitos 5, Esperanza 0--Kandi Rehard pitched a one-hitter for the host Griffins (9-4-1, 2-0). Rehard (3-2) struck out nine and walked none.

Michelle Schneider had a two-run double for Los Alamitos. Esperanza is 4-10 and 1-1.

Loara 3, El Dorado 1--Aimee Lattig went two for three with a double and a single for Loara (9-5, 1-1), which scored all of its runs in the fourth inning. El Dorado is 8-4 and 0-2.