Alvarez’s Two Home Runs Spark Bishop Amat

Shortstop Gabriel Alvarez hit a grand slam and a solo home run Tuesday to lift Bishop Amat to a 5-4 victory over Cypress in the second round of the Southern Section Division 5-A baseball playoffs.

With two outs in the top of the first inning, Alvarez hit a shot 380 feet to center field, giving Bishop Amat (20-5) the early lead. The bases were loaded with no outs in the third when Alvarez came to the plate again, and with a 2-1 count, he hit another homer to center to put the Lancers ahead, 5-1.

Cypress (14-13-1) scored a run in the first when leadoff batter Doug Friley singled to right, advanced to third on an error by outfielder Louis Moya and scored on a wild pitch.

Cypress came back with three runs in the fourth, but couldn’t tie the score.

Jesus Peinado got the save for Bishop Amat. The Lancers used three pitchers, who combined for four strikeouts and gave up 12 hits. Micah Stovall went the distance for Cypress, giving up nine hits and striking out seven.

“This team is the best team I’ve seen all year,” Cypress Coach Don Rayl said. “They have great hitters and made the defensive plays they needed to make.

“I’m real proud of our guys, but I wish we had won. Maybe a clutch hit here or there would’ve made the difference.”