CYPRESS, CA- The Cypress Chargers (21-17, 11-7 OEC) hosted the inter-district rival Fullerton Hornets (20-17, 8-10 OEC) in the three-game series finale on Saturday, April 23rd. The Chargers and Hornets split the first two games, but used the long ball in game three to seal the series victory with a 15-10 win.
Peter Werth (2-for-5) led the scorching hot Cypress offense with a double and a home run sending 5 RBI's across the plate. Luke Honikel (4-for-5, 1 RBI) and Brenden Harris (3-for-5, 3 RBI) also homered in the game to add to the Chargers CCCAA state leading 45 home runs. Third basemen, Edgar Rosales, had an impressive day at the dish going 2-for-5 with 2 RBI's. Nick Bautista (4.1 IP) got the start on the mound for Cypress where he struck out 8 batters and allowed 5 earned runs on 6 hits. Logan Groff (2.0 IP) was dominant in relief allowing only 1 hit as he earned the save.
The Chargers tallied two runs on the board in the bottom of the first before the Hornets and Chargers traded runs in the third and fourth innings. The Fullerton offense exploded in the fifth with 8 runs on 5 hits and 1 error to take a 9-3 lead. Cypress would answer with a 5 run fifth inning of their own as Luke Honikel launched a solo shot over the left field wall to get the offense going. Brenden Harris continued the rally in the fifth with a double and Noah Karliner reached base safely via the walk. Catcher, Matthew Oliden, came up cluch with an two-out RBI double to score another run for Cypress. Peter Werth came to the plate with runners in scoring position, but they would score easily as he sent a fastball 423 ft. over the left field fence bringing Cypress within one.
The Charger bats weren't done as they went on to put up a five spot in the bottom of the sixth as Brenden Harris (3-run HR) and Peter Wereth (2 RBI Double) continued to do damage. Cypress would take a 13-10 lead by the end of sixth inning before tallying two more runs in the eighth and coast to a 15-10 victory.
UP NEXT: The Chargers will play their final series of the season next week versus the Riverside Tigers. Cypress will be on the road for game one on Tuesday, April 26th.
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