Cypress knocked out of playoffs by Roosevelt
CYPRESS – To score runs, a softball team first has to put runners on base, and that became a bit of a problem for Cypress in Tuesday’s CIF-SS Division 1 wild-card game.
“We had our moments though today. We hit the ball right at them, but they are a good defensive club,” Cypress coach Mike Hunter said. “They caught everything. They executed well.”
And because of that, the host Centurions only had five base runners, and three of them got there with some help from Roosevelt of Corona as two Cypress players walked and another made it to first on a Mustangs’ throwing error.
Roosevelt, though, had little problem generating offense. The Mustangs sent seven hitters to the plate in the fourth, batted around in the seventh and eased to a 10-0 victory.
“Ron Smith is a great coach. I give him total credit. His team came in here to play,” Hunter said. “They are very opportunistic. I have got to give them a lot of respect, and I hope they do well.”
If Bree Valles keeps on hitting the way she did on Monday, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the Mustangs (18-11). She went 3-for-3 and scored two runs. Her towering home run to deep center field to lead off the fourth sparked a four-run inning, which began to turn a close game, into an easy victory for Roosevelt.
Before she hit only the second homer of the season at Cypress High, the Mustangs were clinging to a one-run lead. Gordy Bravo opened up the game the Mustangs with a triple to right, and she later scored on Kayla Sanchez’s one-run single.
“The other kid that hit a homer here was from Tustin and she is going to a Division 1 school back East,” Hunter said. “That (Valles’ home run) was a big-time hit. The kid got on the ball.”
The Centurions threatened to break up the shutout in the fifth when Cyndi Chavez drew a two-out walk. She made it to third on Leslie Breseno’s single to right.
Delainey Thompson, who took a no-hitter into the fourth, got the Centurions (16-8) next batter to pop up, which ended the threat.
Cypress closed out the regular season with an emotional, 1-0 victory against Empire League rival Pacifica, and Hunter said it was difficult for the Centurions to carry the intensity they showed that game into Tuesday’s playoff opener.
“Cyndi Chavez is going to Humboldt State. Her sister is up there now as a shortstop, and no one in their family had ever beaten Pacifica, so that was a big thing for her,” Hunter said. “As amped up and as much as they wanted that game, they were able to execute. We were the ones that were opportunistic. But we are going to be better from the experience, and we know that we can play with people. This one today got a little loose. I am proud of my girls. We had a great season.”
