Chargers Squash the Hornets for Sole Possession of Championship
Stokes pitched seven innings Saturday. |
April 29, 2006
Final Stats
Cypress, Calif. - The Chargers were on a mission Saturday to avenge their loss to Fullerton just days earlier. Cypress got their revenge and more walloping the Hornets 13-0 on their way to earning the Orange Empire Conference Championship. The Chargers put up 13 runs on 15 hits including 4 homeruns. Sophomore right-hander David Stokes did his part defensively pitching 7 innings on his way to a shutout improving his record to 6-3 this season.
The scoring came in bunches for Cypress after two scoreless innings. The Chargers started off with 2 in the third. Sophomore second baseman Joel Weeks reached base on a walk and was followed by sophomore Mike Evola who reached base on a fielder’s choice. Sophomore shortstop Taylor Green got his team high 13th double of the year to score Weeks and Evola. Two more runs came in the fourth for Cypress. Sophomore outfielder Mike Vass led off with his 12th double of the year to setup for sophomore first baseman Blaine Wilson. Wilson singled to score Vass. Wilson then stole second and advanced to third on a fly out. Sophomore designated hitter Matt Miller got a sacrifice fly to score Wilson ending the fourth inning 4-0.
Cypress would not relent adding 4 runs in the fifth. Sophomore outfielder Garrett Young singled and was moved to second by Green’s walk. Both runners advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch to setup for freshman third baseman Brandon Laird. Laird singled to score Young and Green. The bleeding would not stop for Fullerton as the very next batter Vass singled and advanced to second on the throw while Laird scored. Vass stole third and quickly reached home on a wild pitch giving Cypress a commanding 8-0 lead.
As if an 8 run lead were not enough, Cypress added four more in the seventh. Green belted his sixth homer of the year to add a run. Sophomore pinch hitter Justin Ariki singled and sophomore outfielder Ben Ornelas got his third homer of the year for another two runs. Sophomore catcher Matt Wallach made it back-to-back homeruns getting his fourth of the year to give Cypress the 12-0 lead. As if they just could not help it, freshman outfielder Kenny Lusk got his first homerun of the year in the eighth giving the Chargers their 13th and final run. Fullerton just could not get their offense going as Stokes shut them out. Stokes was replaced in the eighth when Weeks made his pitching debut for Cypress moving from second base to the pitchers mound facing and retiring 3 straight batters including 2 strikeouts.
With this victory and Santa Ana and Riverside’s losses, Cypress clinches this year’s Orange Empire Conference Championship. This is head coach Scott Pickler’s sixth OEC championship and first since 2003. Conference play is not over for Cypress as they head into OEC tournament play for three more games before playoffs. Cypress will face off again with the Fullerton on Tuesday at 2:30 pm.
