PLACENTIA – Cypress’ baseball team scored the game’s only run because of its reputation and Luke Matlock pitched a shutout Wednesday in the Centurions’ 1-0 win over El Dorado in a National Classic semifinal game at El Dorado High.
Cypress (15-4 overall), ranked No. 7 in the Orange County Top 25, will play No. 9 Servite (12-8) in the championship game Thursday at 7 p.m. at Amerige Park in Fullerton.
Matlock, a senior right-hander, scattered four hits over seven innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The Centurions got their run in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs Gabe Cobian and Matt Morrell reached base on back-to-back errors by El Dorado.
That’s when the Cypress reputation came into play. Nick Montgomery hit a ground ball toward where El Dorado shortstop AJ Frausto usually would be, but the spot was open and the ball bounced into the outfield for a hit.
“We’re known for stealing third base,” Cypress coach John Weber said, “so their shortstop had to hold our guy at second base. That grounder’s an out if you’re playing anybody else, but because you’re playing us and we do those little things, it turns out to be a hit.”
Cobian rounded third and easily scored on the base hit to make it 1-0.
El Dorado’s best chance to score happened in the bottom of the third inning. Brady Abner led off with a double into left-center field. Frausto hit a line drive single to left and Cobian came up throwing. His one-hopper to catcher Max Senesac arrived in plenty of time for Senesac to tag our Abner.
The Golden Hawks’ pitching trio of starter Garvey Rumary, Trent Larsen and Grant Thomas held Cypress to three hits and one unearned run.
Rumary, a senior lefty who was All-Crestview League last season, was on a strict pitching limit in his season debut. He gave up one hit in his three innings.
“Their pitchers did a very good job,” Weber said. “I’m thankful Rumary was on a pitch count.”
Matlock’s fastball and breaking pitches…
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