Early rally pushes Cypress past Sierra

The Chargers took the lead in the third and held on for an 8-5 win in the CCCAA Tournament opener.

Paige Shafer celebrates her two-RBI single in the third inning.
Paige Shafer celebrates her two-RBI single in the third inning. Photos by Richard Quinton
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May 19, 2022

BAKERSFIELD - The Cypress Chargers, #2 seed out of Southern California, rallied for six runs in the third inning and held on to beat the Northern California #3 seed Sierra College 8-5 to open the 2022 CCCAA Softball Tournament.

The Chargers were led offensively by Paige Shafer who finished with a pair of hits and two RBIs in the win. Emily Rush recovered from an early offensive surge by Sierra to earn the win in the circle and improve her record to 26-8. She helped herself at the plate adding two hits and an RBI of her own.

Down 4-1 heading to the bottom of the third following a four-run inning by Sierra, the Chargers responded with back-to-back singles and a fielder's choice to load the bases. That brought up Shafer who hammered a hit to center field to plate Jordan Thompson and Eliana Mora.

Cypress kept rolling scoring Eliza Sandoval on a wild pitch followed by a fielder's choice by Camryn Addimando that brought in Shafer. A sacrifice fly by Cameron Curiel and a bases-loaded walk by Thompson put the score at 7-1.

The offensive explosion by Cypress was preempted by a hitting frenzy from Sierra in the top of the third. The Wolverines scored four runs off seven singles, including six in a row, highlighted by a two-RBI hit to center by Meadow Topete that gave Sierra its first lead of the game. Darcy Gillan and Jada Bolar followed with back-to-back RBI singles to extend the short-lived lead.

Topete led Sierra with three hits and two runs. Emily Walker and Eliana Enriquez each added a pair of hits. Amaya Sutton took the loss giving up six earned runs. Bolar pitched the final four innings holding the Chargers to one earned run.

Cypress advances to face the winner of Northern California #1 seed College of San Mateo and Southern California #4 seed Santiago Canyon tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Bakersfield College. Cypress will face the loser of the San Mateo, Santiago Canyon matchup in an elimination game tomorrow at 11 a.m. at North High School.

(Anthony Avila, CCCAA)