Chargers Jump Ahead for Conference Win

Nesbitt hit the game winning homerun Tuesday afternoon.

Cypress wins their final home game of the season.

May 1, 2008

Final Stats

Cypress, Calif. - Cypress hosted their final home game of the 2008 season facing Golden West in their final regular season series. The Chargers battled through a back and forth game and came out on top thanks to an eighth inning homerun to win 10-9. Sophomore right fielder Michael Nesbitt played hero with a bottom of the eighth two-run homerun to take the lead for good. Nesbitt finished with four RBI while going four for four including a double and a homerun.

The Chargers got the action going early. Sophomore center fielder Dennis Gerbasi led off with a walk to reach and stole second. Nesbitt followed with an infield single to move Gerbasi to third. Freshman catcher Jonathan Hurst drove in the first run of the day with a hard hit single up the middle scoring Gerbasi. Sophomore first baseman AJ Smith laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Nesbitt and Hurst into scoring position. Sophomore third baseman Eddie Agredano added the second run with an RBI fielder’s choice as Nesbitt beat out the throw home. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Marmion finished it up with another fielder’s choice RBI as Hurst scored for the 3-0 lead.

The Rustlers followed up with an unearned run in the top of the second but Cypress was quick to answer. Sophomore second baseman Armando Gallardo led the inning off with an infield single and stole second. Freshman left fielder Tyler Brady moved him to third on a sacrifice bunt. After the second out, Nesbitt hit a double to left center scoring Gallardo. Hurst quickly followed with a single through the right side as Nesbitt scored for the 5-1 lead.

Golden West made a quick comeback in the top of the third with a few hits including a couple of home runs as Cypress saw their lead disintegrate as the Rustlers closed to within one, 5-4. The Charger offense was unable to match the effort in the third as Golden West remained perilously close. The Rustlers kept going scoring three in the top of the fourth to take their first lead of the game 7-5.

Cypress jabbed back to stay close. After two outs, Gerbasi singled to center and then stole his second base of the day. Nesbitt picked him up with a single to right scoring Gerbasi to close within one. After a quiet inning and a half, Cypress got it going again. Freshman designated hitter Justin McGuire hit an infield single followed by Gallardo who was hit by a pitch. Freshman left fielder Tyler Brady hit a well placed bunt for a single to load the bases. Gerbasi hit a fly ball out to left allowing McGuire to tag up and score tying the game at seven.

The Rustlers would not fade jumping right back ahead in the top of the seventh with two more runs. Cypress jabbed back again as Agredano doubled to center and McGuire hit a two-out single through the right side scoring Agredano and cutting the Rustler lead to one.

Cypress came all the way back for the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Gerbasi reached in a walk and Nesbitt hit a homerun over the right field wall to take the lead on one swing 10-9. The Rustlers threatened to take the lead again in the bottom of the eighth. With runners on first and second, the Charger defense executed and 4-6-3 double play to end the game with the win. Sophomore Jarrett Semler earned the win improving to 2-1 on the season. He pitched the final 2.2 innings allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out one.

Cypress improves to 26-16 and 11-9 in conference. The Chargers play their final regular season game tomorrow as they head to Golden West’s field for a rematch against the Rustlers. The two face off Friday at 2:30 at Golden West.