Ninth Inning Heroics Give Cypress Another Home Win
Gerbasi scored Cypress’s winning run. |
February 21th, 2008
Final Stats
Cypress, Calif. - Cypress braved the chilly weather Thursday to host their first of four straight games running through Sunday. The Chargers did not save any drama for later games not taking the lead until when it really counted in the ninth with a walk-off fielder’s choice RBI to win it 5-4. Sophomore centerfielder Dennis Gerbasi was one of several Charger heroes Thursday scoring Cypress’s winning run. Sophomore first baseman AJ Smith earned the RBI, and freshman pinch hitter Justin McGuire kicked it all off with a ninth inning lead off solo homerun to tie the game and give the Chargers a fighting chance. Sophomore designated hitter Jordan Lowe kept Cypress going through most of the game with two doubles and two RBI while freshman pitcher Thomas Hoenshell kept it going defensively with ten strikeouts in six-and-a-third innings.
Cypress got off to a rough start going down in order in the first including two strikeouts. The going got tougher in the top of the second with Cypress walking five batters allowing the Bulldogs to score two runs without a hit. Hoenshell came in to stop the bleeding with the bases loaded and one out down. Hoenshell retired two straight batters to get Cypress out of the inning.
The Chargers were able to figure out the AHC pitcher the second time around. Sophomore right fielder Brian Burke led it off with a single up the middle. Sophomore left fielder Michael Nesbitt followed with a second straight single through the right side. Lowe made it three hits in a row with a ground rule double to centerfield bouncing a ball off the outfield and over the fence for Cypress’s first run of the day as Burke scored. Freshman catcher Parker Berberet walked next to load the bases for Cypress but the Bulldog pitcher buckled down striking out three straight batters to hold Cypress at one run.
Hoenshell continued to perform in the third striking out three straight batters for a quick half inning. The Bulldogs put up their first hit of the game in the fifth and made it a potent one with a homerun for the 3-1 lead. Cypress runners were stranded and hitters were stifled until a spurt in the sixth. Burke belted a ball into center for a lead-off double. Nesbitt moved Burke to third taking advantage of a fielding error. Lowe picked up his second RBI of the day scoring Burke again with another double, this time to left center. Berberet took his turn to punish the ball next with a sacrifice fly to left as Nesbitt tagged up to score tying the game at three.
Hancock would not go away producing just their second and third hits in the top of the eighth to take back the lead 4-3. It came down to the ninth inning with Cypress down one run at the bottom of their lineup. McGuire came in off the bench to pinch hit and played hero with a solo homerun, his third this year, to tie it at four. With no outs and momentum on their side, Cypress jumped at the opportunity to end the game in the ninth. Gerbasi walked to reach first and stole his tenth base of the season to hit second. Freshman second baseman Brad Woodend laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Gerbasi to third. After another walk, Smith hit into a fielder’s choice to third and Gerbasi outran the throw sliding home and winning the game for Cypress 5-4.
Sophomore Mike Pratali earned the win for Cypress pitching the last one-and-a-third innings allowing no hits and striking out two. He improves to 2-1. Sophomore Dale Harder started for the Chargers going one-and-a-third innings allowing no hits but walking five to allow two earned runs. Hoenshell pitched the majority of the game allowing three hits, two earned runs, and striking out ten.
Cypress improves to 11-2 and has no time off as they look towards Friday’s game against College of the Desert. The two will meet for the first time this season Friday at 2:00 pm at Cypress.
