Comeback Hitting Propels Charger Win
McGuire hit the game winning home run Saturday. |
March 8, 2008
Final Stats
Cypress, Calif. - After letting a large early lead fade, Cypress found themselves needing to play catch-up in a rematch of last year’s State Championship game. The Chargers outhit the defending state champions and freshman right fielder Justin McGuire came up big again with a clutch two run homerun in the bottom of the eighth for the 10-9 win. McGuire has been hitting clutch homeruns all season and put up his fourth homer of the year for the game winning run.
Cypress got off to a rough start in the first facing seven Tiger batters and luckily giving up just one unearned run off of one hit, a passed ball, and one error. Freshman pitcher Brent Bray was able to prevent major damage stranding three runners on base with a pop up. On the offensive side for Cypress, freshman third baseman Erik Hempe led off with a pop fly double in between three defenders as he slid in safe to second. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Marmion laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Hempe to third for the first out. A walk from freshman designated hitter Jonathan Hurst put runners on the corners. Sophomore left fielder Michael Nesbitt knocked a ball down the right field line for Cypress’s first run as Hempe scored and Hurst moved to third. Nesbitt ran on the first pitch to steal second and give Cypress two runners in scoring positions. The situation was ripe for sophomore first baseman Jordan Lowe driving a single up the middle for two more Cypress runs for the 3-1 first inning lead.
Bray and Marmion prevented a would-be run in the second with a successful pick off at second that was followed with what would have been an RBI single keeping Riverside scoreless in the second. Cypress put up two more in the third. Nesbitt started it out with a single up the middle and stole his second base of the day to second. A ground out moved him to third. Lowe and freshman catcher Parker Berberet both walked to load the bases. Freshman second baseman Garrett Leon took advantage with a single to right for two RBI as Nesbitt and Lowe scored giving Cypress a 5-1 lead.
Cypress watched their lead dry up in the fourth After two straight walks and a botched fielder’s choice another walk and two singles and a double, the Charger lead was gone and Riverside took charge 7-5 with a six run half inning.
Cypress bounced back on their turn. Marmion walked and stole second. Hurst struck out but reached on a mis-thrown dropped ball by the Riverside catcher allowing Marmion to get all the way home as Cypress was behind now 7-6.
Riverside answered with a solo homerun to retake their two run lead 8-6. The Tigers levied more damage with two singles in the sixth leading to their ninth run for their biggest lead of the game 9-6. Cypress squeezed out another run in the seventh. Mcguire was hit by a pitch to reach and Lowe singled. Berberet hit into a fielder’s choice moving Lowe to second but throwing out McGuire. A single from Leon loaded the bases and a wild pitch was enough for Lowe to score cutting the lead the two.
Cypress came up big stringing together some hits in the eighth. Hempe led off with a stand-up double down the left field line. Marmion followed with a single between defenders behind second for an RBI scoring Hempe and cutting the lead to one. McGuire was up with two outs and used his time to shine with the game tying and winning runs on his homerun. Freshman Thomas Hoenshell came in to close and earned the save striking out the last Tiger out securing the narrow Charger win.
Bray pitched the first three innings allowing three hits and two earned runs with one strikeout. Sophomore right-hander Jarrett Semler earned the win improving to 1-0 pitching the eighth inning allowing no runners on base. Hoenshell earned his second save this season pitching in the ninth allowing one hit and striking out one.
Cypress improves to 16-4 and 2-1 in conference. They have the weekend off before trying to redeem themselves against Fullerton Tuesday. The last time they met, Cypress lost by committing nine errors in the 11-4 OEC Mini-Tournament loss. The two meet up Tuesday at Fullerton at 2:00 pm.
