An Ugly Start Just Gets Worse in Charger Loss
Leon had a homerun Tuesday afternoon. |
February 26, 2008
Final Stats
Cypress, Calif. - The Chargers were coming off of a rough loss at home Monday where their bats failed them. This time around, the defense was to blame as Cypress committed nine errors allowing nine unearned runs to lose to Fullerton 11-4. Freshman second baseman Garrett Leon was an offensive bright spot for the Chargers producing a three-run homerun giving Cypress their only lead.
Cypress set the tone in the first inning with three infield errors and a single to score two Hornet runs. The Chargers escaped unharmed after another two errors in the second but could not do anything to catch up on the offensive side stranding three runners in the bottom of the second.
The Chargers finally got it going in the fourth making up their deficit and more on a two-out rally. Freshman catcher Parker Berberet led it off with a hard hit liner through the third baseman for a double. Sophomore right fielder Brandon Rohr walked next followed by the first RBI of the day with a single through the right side from sophomore first baseman AJ Smith scoring Berberet. The rally was topped off by a three run homerun by Leon for his second homerun of the year and more importantly giving Cypress the 4-2 lead.
The Chargers got themselves in a jam allowing Fullerton to load the bases with one out. Sophomore pitcher Alex Curry took care of the problem picking off the runner at first and then forcing a ground out to blank the Hornets in the sixth.
After holding the Hornets to six scoreless innings, Cypress headed into a fateful seventh inning where things went downhill. A strikeout wild pitch allowed the first runner on then a singled followed. A single and another error allowed two runs to score before the third scored off a passed ball, and then a fourth scored off error number seven and just like that, Fullerton took back their two run lead, 7-5. The mayhem continued with two more errors and three more Hornet runs before the dreaded top of the seventh ended but not before the Hornets put up eight runs for the commanding 10-4 lead. Another Fullerton run in the eighth finished it off in the seven run Charger loss.
Sophomore Mike Pratali suffered the loss falling to 2-2 on the season. Curry pitched the first six innings allowing no earned runs and four hits while striking out five batters. Six Charger pitchers got a turn on the mound and combined gave up just two earned runs.
Cypress falls to 12-4 and moves into the loser’s bracket of the OEC Mini-Tournament. They will host the loser of the Irvine Valley and Golden West game Thursday at Cypress at 2:00 pm.
