Strong Home Showing, Cypress in Position to Fight for First
Morales had 5 RBI Thursday afternoon. |
April 15, 2010
Final Stats
Cypress, Calif. - Cypress came home Thursday hosting Riverside in their final showdown of the series. The Chargers were steady on offense and stingy on defense defeating the Tigers 12-3. The win keeps Cypress in contention for first place as they head into the two game series against rival and first place team Santa Ana. Sophomore shortstop Johnathan Morales was Cypress’s highlight player driving in five runs on the day.
Sophomore rightfielder Matt Avery started it off for Cypress with a solo homerun in the first to give Cypress the lead. After getting in trouble in the top of the second, the Cypress infield put together a clutch double play to keep the Tigers scoreless.
Two straight singles and then a three-run homerun by sophomore shortstop Johnathan Morales put Cypress up 4-0. After taking an inning off, sophomore centerfielder Erik Hempe scored one. After leading off with a double and advancing to third on a passed ball, Hempe scored off a double play ball. Cypress maintained the shutout in the top of the fifth with another clutch double play.
Riverside finally got on the board with an unearned run in the top of the seventh but Cypress came right back answering with two. With two runners on, sophomore designated hitter Corey Levier hammered a double down the left field line bringing both runners home. The Tigers chipped in another in the eighth.
Cypress piled it on in the eighth punishing the Tigers pitcher. Morales drove in two with a double and LeVier picked up three on a triple giving Cypress the commanding ten run lead. Riverside added a run in the ninth but it was not enough to catch the Chargers.
Sophomore starter Thomas Hoenshell (9-1) earned the win pitching the first seven innings allowing no earned runs and striking out three.
Cypress (20-10, 12-4) has the weekend off before traveling to rival Santa Ana for the first in a two game series. Cypress routed the Dons 19-5 earlier this year. The two meet up again Tuesday at 2:00 pm at Santa Ana.
