CYPRESS – John Weber has coached Cypress baseball to 393 wins.
Friday’s win was not one of the better-played ones among those 393.
The Centurions beat Tustin 10-4 in an Empire League game that had 14 walks, five errors and two hit batsmen.
“It’s an ugly ball game by both parties for sure,” Weber said afterward. “But we’ll absolutely take a win with this young group anytime we can get one. We’re super young and super inexperienced.”
Tustin beat Cypress 4-3 in the Empire League opener for both teams Wednesday.
Cypress, No. 5 in the Orange County rankings, is 6-5-1 overall and 1-1 in league. Tustin is 8-5 overall and 1-1 in league.
The Centurions scored seven runs in the second inning on one hit. The inning included seven walks, five with the bases loaded, a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, and an error. That gave Cypress an 8-2 lead.
Tustin scored first in the game. Roman Lavender blasted the game’s first pitch over the head of Cypress left fielder Noah Johnson for a double. The Tillers’ Jackson Key pulled the game’s third pitch down the left-field line for a double to drive in Lavender.
Cypress tied it with a run in bottom of the first. Senior catcher Nick Montgomery, batting lead-off, walked, stole second and third base and scored on an error.
The Tillers took a 2-1 lead in the second inning. Andrew Olsen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to send in the run.
Then came the Cypress seven-run second inning.
The Centurions added an unearned run in the fourth inning for a 9-2 lead.
Tustin scored twice in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Olsen and Adam Whyte’s bases-loaded walk.
Jake De Laquil’s double in Cypress’ half of the sixth drove in the final run.
Junior right-hander Aidan Franco pitched the first four innings without allowing an earned run to get the win and improve to 4-2. Freshman lefty Tate Belfanti pitched the final three innings, gave up two hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts.
Cypress has won or shared the last 10 Empire League championships.
Montgomery saw Friday’s win, following Wednesday’s league-opening loss, as a crucial first step toward continuing the league championships streak.
“The end goal always is to win a league title,” said Montgomery, who signed with Arizona State. “So to get this one out of the way and keep moving forward is a big deal.”
Cypress plays Valencia in two league games next week. The Centurions are home against Valencia on Tuesday and at Valencia on Thursday.
Cypress plays in a tournament in Nevada the following week before playing in the National Classic tournament April 1-4.
Tustin plays two league games against Kennedy next week starting with a home game on Wednesday. The Tillers are in the RLF Spring Tournament at Great Park, April 1-4.
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