Cypress Scores Five in Ninth to Finish Off Fullerton
Cypress completed its late-season rush with a last-inning rally to beat Fullerton, 12-9, in an Orange Empire Conference baseball game Thursday at Fullerton.
Cypress trailed, 8-7, going into the ninth but scored five runs, then hung on.
The Chargers, defending State champions, won their final six conference games to finish 26-17, 12-12 in conference. Cypress is assured of at least a tie for third. This, after losing their first six conference games.
But it remains to be seen if the Chargers, who have a bye Saturday on the last day of the regular season, make the playoffs.
Cypress Coach Scott Picker naturally believes they should.
“I think we deserve to be in the playoffs,” Pickler said. “One of the criteria is how well you are playing at the end of the year and that should be in our favor. We just kept getting better.”
Fullerton and Orange Coast can join Cypress in a tie for third with victories Saturday.
Fullerton is at Golden West and OCC plays host to Saddleback, with both games at noon. Riverside clinched second place Thursday with a 9-8 victory over Golden West.
Rancho Santiago, which wrapped up the conference title Tuesday, and Riverside are assured of playoff berths. The third-place team from the conference will most likely get an at-large and the fourth place team has a chance at an at-large berth.
Fullerton scored three runs in the eighth to take a 8-7 lead before Cypress came back in the ninth. Reliever George Velasquez walked Ryan Hamilton to start the inning then gave up David Newhan’s double to the left-field fence. Jon Hudson replaced Velasquez and got pinch-hitter Jason Hodges on a fly ball to shallow left.
Kevin Clark was walked intentionally, but Andy Gonzales gave Cypress a 10-7 lead with a three-run triple that reached the right-center field fence. Tony Martinez doubled to left center to drive in Gonzales and chase Hudson (2-2), who took the loss.
Abijah Alastra had an RBI double off reliever Ron Williams to cap Cypress’ scoring. Reliever Rick Orr (3-1) allowed a run but got the victory for Cypress.
Gonzales had a two-run double in the third to give Cypress a 4-2 lead. Fullerton scored once in the third, but Cypress got three in the sixth to take a 7-3 lead. Alastra walked and Chris Hoffman singled after two were out. Charles Gipson then lined the ball to center.
Fullerton’s Mickey Fortie dived for the ball, but it got past him and rolled to the fence. Gipson was able to beat the throw home for an inside-the-park, three-run home run.
Whit Haydon had a two-run double in the sixth as Fullerton cut the deficit to 7-5.
In other conference games:
Rancho Santiago 15, Orange Coast 5--Steve Thobe, Derek Brown, Robin Lindsey and David Gonzalez hit home runs for host Rancho Santiago (26-11, 17-6). The loss drops OCC to 20-15 and 11-12, keeping Coach Mike Mayne at 399 career victories.
Thobe (his third) and Brown (his second) had three-run home runs as Rancho Santiago scored six runs in the second to go ahead, 6-0. Thobe finished with three hits and five RBIs and Brown had three hits and four RBIs.
Lindsey (his sixth) hit a two-run home run and Gonzalez (his second) had a solo homer in the sixth as the Dons scored six more runs to take a 15-1 lead.
Riverside 9, Golden West 8--With two outs and the tying run on third, Riverside pitcher Joey Dawley got Jason Brissey to fly to left to end the game. Darvin Traylor had two hits and four RBIs for host Riverside (25-13, 13-10).
David Schultz, who hit his seventh home run of the season, and Garrett DeGiorgio had three hits each for Golden West (15-20-1, 8-15).
In the State Swimming championships at Belmont Plaza:
Orange Coast Leads--After the first day of the three-day competition, Orange Coast was in first place with 250 points and Golden West in second with 153.
Andreas Roestenberg of Orange Coast set a national record by finishing the 500 freestyle in 4 minutes 26.09 seconds. Bill Babashoff, formerly of Orange Coast, held the record at 4:26.23. Orange Coast also set a national record in the 200 freestyle relay and Orange Coast’s Otte Matthias set a state record in the 200 individual medley.