Valdez powers Cypress’ pounding of Dos Pueblos

Cypress' Nick Valdez gets a fist bump as he rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run against Dos Pueblos in the first inning of a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game at Cypress.
Cypress pitcher Trevor Hall pauses for a moment on the mound after getting the last out in the seventh inning of a 10-1 victory over Dos Pueblos on Tuesday.
Cypress' Stephen Lohr steals third base before continuing home to score on a bad throw as Dos Pueblos' third baseman Nolan Soto tries to make the catch in the first inning of a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game at Cypress.
Cypress' Stephen Lohr hits an RBI double in the first inning during a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game against Dos Pueblos at Cypress.
Cypress' Trevor Hall pitches against Dos Pueblos in the second inning of a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game at Cypress.
The Cypress baseball team gather on the field at the end of the game with a scoreboard behind them that shows their 10-1 victory over Dos Pueblos for a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game at Cypress.
Cypress' Kevin Lillicrop slides safely back to second base in the second inning as Dos Pueblos' Ben York waits for the ball during a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game at Cypress.
Cypress' Trevor Hall pitches against Dos Pueblos in the seventh and last inning of a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game at Cypress.
Cypress' Kevin Lillicrop slides feet first as he steals third base during a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game at Cypress.
Cypress' Nick Valdez hits a sacrifice RBI in the sixth inning of a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game against Dos Pueblos at Cypress.
Cypress' Stephen Lohr makes it safely back to third base as Dos Pueblos' third baseman Nolan Soto tries to make the tag in the fifth inning of a CIF-SS Division 2, second-round baseball game at Cypress.

By Andrew Turner | Orange County Register

May 21, 2013 at 8:15 p.m.

CYPRESS – It took until the last game of the regular season for Cypress to clinch the Empire League title, but the Centurions are finally where they thought they belong.

The gold streaks of dye in the players’ hair reflect a playoff tradition, and the Centurions expect to perform in the postseason.

Nick Valdez knocked in five runs as Cypress hammered its way past Dos Pueblos of Goleta, 10-1, on Tuesday in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs at Cypress High.

The Centurions (23-8) will travel to play Oxnard in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Valdez drilled a two-run homer to left in the first inning. He followed that up with a single to drive in two more runs in the second.

Valdez said that the coaching staff threw a lefty against the team in practice, and it helped with their matchup against UC Santa Barbara commit Gabe Speier.

“I was seeing the ball well,” he said. “I just really became successful today.

Trevor Hall matched up against Speier on the mound.

Hall (11-4) picked up the win, allowing one run on five hits in a complete game performance. The Chargers (21-9) scored their only run in the first inning on a single by Nolan Soto.

Cypress coach John Weber said Speier had beaten the Centurions two years ago, and when the Centurions fell behind in the first inning, he became concerned.

“I was a little nervous because Trevor (Hall), as great as he’s been, has had some tiny issues in the first inning,” he said. “When (Dos Pueblos) goes ahead and with all the hype on their guy, I was a little nervous.”

The Centurions picked up Hall, scoring four times in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-1 lead. After Valdez homered, David Fletcher tripled, and Stephen Lohr doubled as Cypress displayed its power early.

“It gave me a little boost,” said Hall of the Centurions’ quick offensive response. “I knew we had it from there.”

Steven Andrade and Kevin Lillicrop also had two-hit games.