Cypress Takes Narrow Lead by Beating Dons in Softball

Cypress took a half-game lead in the Orange Empire Conference after posting a victory over Rancho Santiago, 10-3, in a softball game at Cypress Friday.

The Chargers trailed through five innings, 3-2, but scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sandra Mulder hit a three-run double to highlight the inning and Autumn Gwinner had two hits and four RBIs for Cypress (48-3, 13-1 in conference).

Cypress moved ahead of Fullerton (27-10, 12-1), which didn’t play Friday.

Rancho Santiago is 23-17, 9-5.

In other conference games:

Irvine Valley 9, Golden West 1 (5 innings, mercy rule)--Jennifer Cessna had two hits and two runs scored and Tami Harris had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored for Irvine Valley (17-16, 3-11).

Michelle Ward had two hits and Sarah Nunby drove in the only run for Golden West (8-20, 3-11).

Saddleback 2, Riverside 0--Tairyn Blankartz pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts for Saddleback (12-16-1, 6-8). Blankartz escaped a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the first, getting a fielder’s choice at home and a strikeout.

In the South Coast Conference men’s swimming:

Golden West 81, Fullerton 13--Rudolfo Ramirez won the 500 (5 minutes 0.82 seconds) and 1,000 freestyle (10:32.13) for Golden West (6-0), which also defeated Cerritos (3-4), 81-13, in the triangular meet.

In the South Coast League women’s swimming:

Golden West 87, Fullerton 35--Emily Hagen won the 50 (29.20) and 100 butterfly (1:04.10) and swam the third leg of the winning 200 medley relay team for Golden West, which also defeated Cerritos, 106-16, in the tri-meet.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s volleyball:

Grossmont 3, Irvine Valley 1--Andy Clifton had team-high 21 kills and Chris Shay added 18 for Irvine Valley (2-13), which lost, 16-14, 6-15, 15-11, 17-15. Mike Adomosky had 23 kills for Grossmont (5-10).

Orange Coast 3, Palomar 0--Kevin Reid had 16 kills and Fernando Sabla added 15 for host Orange Coast (15-2, 14-2), which won, 15-12, 15-13, 15-9.