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Cypress players show their championship trophy Thursday night. (Photos: OC Sports Zone, Tom Connolly).
Matthew Morrell and Zack Ocampo limited Bishop Amat to five hits and Nick Montgomery homered to help Cypress High School’s baseball team capture the National Classic with a 3-1 victory Thursday night at Amerige Park.
Montgomery was named the tournament’s MVP. The Centurions’ first baseman helped Cypress (17-3-2) extend its winning streak to six games. Cypress has won 13 of the last 14 games.
Morrell picked up the win throwing five innings, gave up one run and four hits, struck out five and walked two.
“I felt OK tonight, my fastball was working and my defense did a great job,” said Morrell. “It means a lot to win this tournament because of the quality of the teams and this gives us a lot of confidence going forward with the rest of league play.”
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Cypress first baseman Nick Montgomery (left) and winning pitcher Matthew Morrell.
Cypress players celebrate after winning the title.
Cypress pitcher Zack Ocampo, who earned the save Thursday night.Ocampo, a left handed sophomore, relieved Morrell to start the sixth inning and faced only seven Lancers to earn his first save of the season.
“I wasn’t nervous,” said Ocampo. “I knew I was going to be pitching in relief tonight. It’s why I was taken out of Monday’s game (against Bishop Alemany). I wanted the CG (complete game) but the coach said he would need me later in the tournament, so I’m glad he did what he did.”
The Centurions pushed across a run in the top of the first. Luke Matlock, who had two hits and scored two runs, doubled to left center with one out and scored on Montgomery’s two-out RBI single.
Matlock led off the third inning with a single and scored on Montgomery’s two-run homer – his third of the season – that landed over the fence just inside the left field foul pole, giving Cypress a 3-0 lead.
“It was definitely wall scrapper,” said Montgomery describing the path of his homer being so close to the foul pole. “I was looking for a fastball over the plate and I got it. There are so many good teams in this tournament, this is a great team win.”
Montgomery reached base three times, to go along with two hits and three RBI.. He also made an outstanding catch at first base on line drive late in the game.
Efren Miranda was a last replacement as Amat’s starting pitcher. He threw five innings, gave up three runs and five hits, struck out five and took the loss.
Morrell and Ocampo were tough on the Lancers hitters as the pair stranded five Lancers baserunners, including two runners in the fourth. Brenden Rodriguez tripled to lead off the bottom of the fifth and scored Amat’s only run on an infield ground out.
Bishop Amat (13-6) had its four-game winning streak snapped as the Lancers were attempting to win the National Classic for the fifth time, but they fell short. It was only Amat’s second loss on the road in 12 games this season.
“The key was our pitching; Morrell was throwing hard but he threw a lot of pitches,” said Cypress Coach John Weber. “And when we brought in Ocampo, he was awesome. He doesn’t throw as hard, so it was good mix. Ocampo started for us on Monday, and I took him out (and he didn’t want to come out), but I told we would need him later in the tournament. Tonight, we needed him.”
The Centurions went 4-0 in the tournament, defeating Bishop Alemany, South Hills, Santa Margarita and Bishop Amat. The Lancers beat Palos Verdes, St. John Bosco and El Dorado before losing on Thursday. Cypress has outscored its opponents this season 127-52.
–Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
