Cypress Routs Imperial Valley, 15-2

The playoffs aren’t normally the time for the regulars to get a rest, but Cypress had the rare chance Friday in a 15-2 victory over Imperial Valley in the second round of the Southern California baseball playoffs at Cerritos College.

Every Cypress starter had at least one hit and scored at least one run by the fifth and Coach Scott Pickler was able to use his bench.

Cypress (33-13-1) will play host Cerritos at 11 a.m. today. Cerritos scored a run in the ninth to beat Los Angeles Harbor, 6-5.

Cerritos is the second-ranked team in Southern California and Cypress is No. 3. Pete Lythgoe (5-5) will start for Cypress, the defending State champion.

“It’s going to get a lot tougher,” Pickler said. “That’s what you expect when you get this far.”

Cypress’ Mark Selway and Keith Ginter hit home runs as part of a 15-hit attack. It was Ginter’s second and Selway’s third of the season.

Ginter’s homer, a two-run shot, capped a seven-run first in which Cypress sent 11 batters to the plate, getting five hits and three walks.

Jeremy Booth drove in the first run with a single up the middle and Selway walked with the bases loaded for the second run.

Brooks Morris, a transfer from Cerritos, singled in two runs and another run scored on a throwing error on the same play.

That brought up Ginter, who drove the ball over the left-field fence.

Selway’s homer, a three-run shot down the left-field line, capped a four-run fifth that put Cypress ahead, 15-1.

“It was nice to see Selway and Ginter give us some production toward the bottom of the lineup,” Pickler said.

Booth, the designated hitter, had three hits, scored three runs, and drove in one. Selway scored three runs and Israel Gonzalez scored two for Cypress.

Mike Cosgrove, the starting pitcher, struggled early on for Cypress but recovered well.

He gave up a run and seven hits in the first 2 1/3 innings but came back to retire the final eight he faced. He got double plays to get out of the first and second innings.

Cosgrove (9-1) struck out seven in five innings when he was pulled with the idea of being able to return Sunday.

Jeff Wozniak, making only his seventh appearance of the season, gave up two hits and no runs over the next three innings. Rich Silva, also making his seventh appearance of the season, pitched the ninth.

Felix Pagan had a home run, his 12th of the season, for Imperial Valley (26-20), which plays Los Angeles Harbor at 10 today at Long Beach.