Charger Comeback Opens Conference with a Win

Hempe had two RBI Tuesday afternoon.

Cypress starts conference with a win over Golden West.                                                                                                   

March 2, 2010

Final Stats                        

Huntington Beach, Calif. - The 2010 Orange Empire Conference baseball schedule opened Tuesday and Cypress began by traveling to Golden West. Cypress fought off a strong Rustler start to come back for a 7-4 win. The win starts Cypress on the right foot on the way to defending their 2009 OEC Championship. Sophomore right fielder Erik Hempe led Cypress with two RBI, a run scored, and a triple.

Golden West got on the board first with two runs in the third. The Rustlers added two more in the fifth as Cypress continued to go run-less putting the Chargers behind 4-0.

Cypress was undaunted finally scoring in the sixth. Sophomore shortstop Johnathan Morales started it off with a double and then scored off an RBI single by sophomore designated hitter Corey Levier. Sophomore second baseman DC Legg scored next after an RBI single by freshman first baseman Bryan Aanderud. Hempe followed by scoring LeVier and then Aanderud scored on a wild pitch. Cypress’s four-run deficit was erased after just one inning.

As the Charger bullpen kept Golden West scoreless after the fifth, Cypress surged ahead in the eighth. After sophomore pinch hitter David Silvas reached on an error, Hempe tripled to give Cypress the lead. Hempe then scored off an RBI double by sophomore Dimitri DeLaFuente and then DeLafuente scored off an RBI groundout by sophomore centerfielder Jordan Foreman for Cypress’s seventh run.

Sophomore starter Ray Hanson pitched 7.1 innings for the win improving to 3-0. Sophomore Travis Garrett earned the save pitching one inning allowing no hits.

Cypress (9-4, 1-0) has a couple days off before their second conference game on Thursday. The Chargers will travel to Irvine Valley Thursday to take on the Lasers. IVC is 6-6 coming off of a 6-5 loss to Fullerton. Cypress will take on the Lasers Thursday at 2:00 pm at IVC.