Cypress’s 50th Win Moves Them on to the State Championship Tournament

Toledo produced 2 RBI Sunday afternoon.

Brad Pickler makes his 18th straight appearance at the State Tournament.

May 13th, 2007

Cypress, Calif. - Another win, another State Championship appearance, and more business as usual as Cypress completed the sweep of the Renegades with a 10-2 win to propel themselves to the State Tournament. Cypress made it a Mother’s Day to remember bringing their mothers out during starting lineup and then got right down to business hitting Bakersfield early and hard finishing with 15 hits. The end of the game was not marked with celebration and cheering because the Chargers know the real challenges lie ahead as they must win four more games against the best teams in the state to accomplish their goal of defending their State Championship.

Cypress wasted no time scoring early. Freshman shortstop Ashley Boyd led the game off with a hard hit single through the right side and then stole second and then hit third on a passed ball. Sophomore catcher Gabrielle Woody grounded one to the shortstop to score Boyd for the 1-0 lead. The Chargers piled some on in the second with a three run inning. Sophomore left fielder Sabrina Hernandez singled to the shortstop beating out the throw. Sophomore centerfielder Jade Espinoza showed some speed as well with a bunt single moving Hernandez to second. Boyd hit into a fielder’s choice but they could not throw out Espinoza loading the bases for Gutierrez. Gutierrez placed a single deep in the left center gap as Hernandez and Espinoza raced home for two runs. Boyd was caught stealing at third but Gutierrez advanced to second on the throw. Woody singled through the left side and the Renegade outfielder over threw the ball allowing Gutierrez to slide home avoiding the tag for Cypress’s fourth run.

The Chargers busted the game open in the fourth. Hernandez led the inning off with a bunt single to the pitcher while Espinoza moved her over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Gutierrez brought her home with a single up the middle and then advanced to second on the throw and then third on a throwing error. Sophomore catcher Gabrielle Woody then brought Gutierrez home on a single to left. Sophomore designated hitter Brooke Pefley was hit by a pitch to reach next. Sophomore right fielder Kristin Afudemberg singled up the middle for an RBI as Woody scored and Pefley moved to second. Aufdemberg and Pefley then both moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Freshman second baseman Andrea Toledo came in to hit for the first time in the game as a pinch hitter and produced immediately with a two RBI single down the left field line for Cypress’s fifth run of the inning and ninth overall.

Cypress gave up a couple runs in the fifth to elongate the game allowing Bakerfield to temporarily avoid a mercy rule ending. The Charger offense kept going though in the sixth needing just one run to end the game early. Freshman third baseman Lizette Mejia singled to the shortstop to lead off the inning. Toledo singled up the middle again advancing Mejia to second. Hernandez added the third single of the inning to right loading the bases. Espinoza hit into a fielder’s choice but the Renegades were unable to throw out Mejia at home as she scored and ended the game on the eight run rule.

Gutierrez earned the win improving to 33-4 on the season after four innings of work, four strikeouts, and just two hits allowed. Gutierrez’s two hits also moved her up to just one hit away from tying the school record for career hits. Freshman Sydney Rae Woolley finished up the game for Cypress pitching the last two innings.

Cypress now reaches the State Championship Tournament as Southern California’s second seed. The Chargers must defend their State Championship against seven of the State’s top teams in a double elimination tournament. Cypress has a 2-3 record against teams that will be competing in the State Championship tournament. The Chargers will face the number three seed from the North, Sierra. Cypress lost to Sierra in their sixth game of the season 1-3. The two will meet up again on Friday at the Chino Hills Big League Dreams Park. Keep checking in to the schedule for the game time.