Cypress High’s CIF champions were represented by (from left) Michael Marsh, Braden Murphy and Tyler Chaffee and Coach John Weber. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
Five Empire League hurlers limited the Freeway League all-stars to five hits en route to a 7-1 victory Sunday evening at The Great Park Baseball Stadium in the 23rd annual Ryan Lemon Foundation Showcase.
The Empire League hurlers, led by Jovanny Reyes (Pacifica), Tylerc Chaffee (Cypress), Tyler Mazzagatte (Crean Lutheran), Sergio Alfaro (Tustin) and Niko Santamaria (Valencia), combined to strike out 10 batters and dominated to lead the Empire all-stars to the win.
Timothy Sardo (Crean Lutheran) and Braden Murphy (Cypress) each had two RBI to spark the Empire League’s offense.
“It was fun to hang with the guys you played against all season,” said Murphy. “It was enjoyable. I’m happy to win and put on the high school uniform one more time.”
Murphy’s Cypress High coach John Weber said it was a nice way to cap off the season.
“Today was fun for the kids,” said Weber, whose team won the CIF Division 1 championship two weeks ago and finished the season with a 31-3 record. “For many of them it’s the last time they’ll put on a uniform to play. We let them relax; we had the NBA game on in the dugout and we let them have their phones on. Of course, that would never happen during the season, this is more of a relaxing atmosphere.”
Santamaria doubled with one out in the second inning and took third on a wild pitch. Murphy then drilled a double to right center giving the Empire All Stars a 1-0 lead. Alex Cruz (Pacifica) followed with an RBI single upping the lead to 2-0.
“It was fun to hang with the guys you played against all season,” said Murphy. “It was enjoyable. I’m happy to win and go out and put the high school uniform one more time.”
Sardo agreed.
“It’s good to be here and represent your school, the Empire League and playing with guys with great talents,” Sardo added.
The Empire League added a run in the third inning.
The Freeway League scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the third inning when Hector Garcia (Sonora) ripped an RBI single to cut the lead to 3-1.
But the Empire League countered with three more runs in the fourth, highlighted by Sardo’s two run single making it 6-1. Curtis Suchy (Tustin) added a RBI sacrifice fly in the seventh to complete the Empire League scoring.
In the meantime, the Empire League pitchers allowed only two hits over the final four innings to close out the victory.
“It’s a great way to wrap up the season,” said Chaffee of Cypress.
Despite losing, Freeway League all-star Tommy Senne put the spirit of the game in perspective.
“We got to the second round of CIF and it was intense; this isn’t nearly as intense and it gave us all an opportunity to showcase our game,” said Senne, a first baseman for Sunny Hills.
-Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
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