Cypress Opens Regional With 5-Inning 17-1 Victory

Cypress Federal opened the Little League Baseball Western Regional Tournament Tuesday in San Bernardino with a 17-1 victory over Gastineau Channel East Little League from Juneau, Alaska.

Cypress scored three runs in the first inning, seven runs in the third and seven more in the fifth when the game was called because of the mercy rule. Alexander Alba had two home runs, Zachary Wingo homered, doubled and drove in four runs and Zachary Wesley also homered for Cypress.

Right-hander Matthew Swims pitched four innings, allowing two hits and striking out four for Cypress, which plays Murrayhill Little League from Beaverton, Ore. Thursday at 5 p.m.

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The Linda Vista Little League from Guadeloupe, Mexico, will defend its World Series title in Williamsport, Pa., Aug. 23-29. Linda Vista defeated Nicaragua, 9-1, last weekend in the Latin American finals in Puerto Rico.

Linda Vista was 6-1 during the tournament, losing only to the Virgin Islands, 7-4, in pool play.

Last year, Linda Vista rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth and final inning to defeat South Mission Viejo, 5-4, in the championship game.

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The scouting report says Cypress has good pitching and plays good defense

“They’re not quite as deep as the first Cypress team, but they have pitching and that is important. They are a solid, basic team and they won’t go down easy,” said Bob McKittrick, administrator for District 38, which encompassed the Long Beach Little League, winner of the 1992 and ’93 World Series titles.