Chargers Survive another Battle with the Pirates
Evola batted in the winning run Wednesday. |
March 29, 2006
Final Stats
Costa Mesa, Calif. - Over 24 hours after the first pitch, Cypress pulled out a ninth inning run to top OCC to go 3-0 over the Pirates this year sweeping last year’s conference champions. None of the three victories over OCC were easy and this last one was no different as Cypress had to rely on late game heroics to defeat the Pirates 6-5. Sophomore outfielder Mike Evola came into the game in the bottom of the eighth and was clutch as he made a game saving catch and used his one at bat to drive in the winning run.
The game started Tuesday afternoon with rain looming. Orange Coast struck first with 2 runs in the second inning. Cypress answered in a burst of hits with 3 runs in the third to take the lead. Sophomore outfielder Mike Vass doubled and was followed by a single by sophomore catcher Matt Wallach to score Vass. Sophomore outfielder Garrett Young followed with another double to score Wallach, and sophomore second baseman Garret Green singled to score Young. Cypress gave up a run in the third to even the score at 3. The Chargers added a run in the next inning as Vass singled to score sophomore designated hitter Matt Miller. The fourth inning would be the end of play on Tuesday as the roll came in and postponed the game until Wednesday.
Cypress returned to Costa Mesa to finish against the Pirates with a 4-3 advantage going into the fifth. The Chargers built on their lead in the top of the fifth when Vass walked with the bases loaded to score freshman outfielder Ben Ornelas to increase the Charger lead to 5-3. The Pirates would not let Cypress run away with the game belting a two run homer in the seventh to tie the game up at 5.
Cypress was left scoreless in three consecutive innings going into the bottom of the eighth. With the winning run on first, the second Pirates batter belted one to center and Evola made a running catch to prevent the run. With one out retired and one on, sophomore right-hander Wes Etheridge came into the game to get the Chargers out of the eighth still tied at 5. In the top of the ninth, sophomore shortstop Taylor Green walked and was followed by a single by freshman first baseman Brandon Laird to advance Taylor Green to scoring position in third. Evola grounded out to short but it was enough to bring in Taylor Green for the Chargers’ sixth run. The Pirates had one last chance in the bottom of the ninth but were shut out as Etheridge struck out all three batters to end the game and earn the win to improve to 4-0 this season.
Cypress improves to 10-1 in conference in first place. Because of the rain delay the Chargers have no day off as they host Golden West who is 3-7 in conference. Cypress faced the Rustlers earlier this season winning 14-6. The team will meet Thursday at 2:00 pm.
