Golden West Comes Back To Win In The 10th, 6-5, Advances To Title Game Against SRJC
Fresno, CA - The Golden West Rustlers gave Cypress a little bit of their own medicine. Cypress was known for their late inning heroics but this time it was Golden West who pulled off some late magic, earning the win in extra innings. After 7 2/3 innings of being shutout, Golden West put together a rally scoring five runs and tying the game, led by Daniel Mcguire's two run double. Forcing extra innings, the tenth started with a double by Michael Fuchs who then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Danial Maguire then hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop who bobbled the ball and was charged with an error but his play stopped the run from scoring, bringing up John Shattles who hit a deep fly ball well over the head of the right fielder scoring Fuchs and giving Golden West the 6-5 win.
Double plays are a pitcher's best friends and both teams relied on them early in the game. Golden West had two in the first two innings which helped keep the Cypress Chargers off the board while the Chargers were able to limit the damage from the Rustlers' to two runs in the first inning though the rally started after the double play. Will Aguilar singled followed by a single by Elija Skipps bringing Aguilar to third. With runners on the corners, Nick Reeser and Bo Coolen had RBI singles to give the Chargers a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Golden West allowed their first five runs with two outs including a two run blast by Nick Reeser which chased Brett Mays from the game in the top of the fifth. Cypress was in desperate need of having a pitcher go long in tonight's game and Henry Martinez was up to the task for the first 7 2/3 innings. Martinez left the game with the bases loaded for Sebastian Lopez to face Maguire who then hit a line drive double scoring two runners, forcing Cypress to bring in Tripp Aversa who threw a wild pitch to bring in another run, then walked Shattles to put the possible winning run on base. A bunt by Philip Knapp scored Maguire. A basehit by Tyler Depreta scored the tying run in Shattles and that was the end of Aversa's night, bringing in Joey Leavitt. Leavitt was able to stop the bleeding with a fielder's choice to end the eighth.
Golden West with the win advances to the CCCAA Baseball Championship game where they'll face Santa Rosa Junior College. Cypress ends their season with a 31-15 record.