Two big innings help Cypress storm past Valencia 9-2 and remain atop the Empire League

Cypress junior Brett Wozniak, a Nebraska commit, fires a pitch in Friday’s game (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Cypress High’s baseball team used a couple four-run innings to defeat Valencia 9-2 Friday afternoon at Cypress to remain atop the Empire League standings with two weeks left in the regular season.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Cypress first baseman Tyler Chaffee hauls in the ball Friday.

Josh Carrrera of Valencia throws the ball during Friday's game with Cypress.

Braden Murphy adjusts his cap in between plays Friday afternoon.

One of Valencia's pitchers Shaun McHale throws a pitch in Friday's game.

Brett Wozniak of Cypress comes around to score during Friday's game.

Brett Wozniak of Cypress takes a swing against Valencia Friday.

Mike Marsh of Cypress scores a run in Friday's game vs. Valencia.

Cypress players Bruce Guest (No. 3) and Jackson Ronningen in the dugout.

It's a meeting at the mound for Valencia with Dalton Sloninger (No. 9) and starting pitcher Kyle Chrysler.

Cameron Repetti of Cypress takes a base during Friday's game with Valencia.

Elias Rios of Cypress had a double in the fourth inning and went to third on a wild pitch.

Cypress Coach John Weber talks to his team after Friday's victory.

Cypress, 6-0 in league, has a one-game lead over second place Kennedy (5-1).

The teams square off Wednesday at Kennedy and Friday at Cypress.

“We got to win them all, Kennedy keeps winning too,” said Cypress Coach John Weber. “Next week will be good. Hopefully they won (Friday’s game vs. Tustin. Kennedy won 18-2). It will charge our guys up and we can go to war against them. It will be nice.”

Valencia (7-16, 3-4) scored two runs in the second inning off starter Brett Wozniak, one of them on an RBI single by Jimmy Jackle. The other run was unearned and scored on an error.

But Cypress (21-3 overall) battled back with a run in the third inning. Cameron Repetti singled and scored on an RBI double by Tyler Chaffee.

Then in the fourth, Noah Carter delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in Elias Rios, who doubled and later in the inning, Repetti had a bases clearing triple to put Cypress ahead 5-2.

“He struggled offensively last game,” Weber said of Repetti. “He sometimes gets in his own way where he tries to think that he can make things up. He took a huge, huge swing, a little bit out of his element. And then he regrouped after I made acomment to him and he hits that nice little triple down the line. It was good to see him make that adjustment.”

In the sixth inning, Cypress batted around scoring four more runs. Luke Davis had an RBI double, Wozniak helped himself with a two-run double and Braden Murphy drove home a run with a single.

Wozniak finished strong blanking Valencia for the final five innings. He struck out six and allowed seven hits, four in the first two innings.

“The defense helped me out a lot making key plays and my coaches calling pitches up and down the zone mixing in my curve ball and my change-up and just hitting my spots,” Wozniak said.

“It was a good team victory, we’re on a roll right now,” the junior said. “We just got to keep on going and head towards the playoffs. Our first goal is a league championship.”

Valencia was led by Logan Garcia and Dalton Sloninger, who had two hits each.

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-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com