By Tim Peterson
(San Dimas) – Rocco Regan’s two-run single capped a four- run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning and lifted San Dimas to a 7-6 win over Cypress Tuesday in second round of the CIF Division 1 playoffs.
The Saints entered the bottom of the seventh down 6-3 when John Nauertz led off with a double. With one out Kasen Khansarinia doubled to right field to drove him home. Landon White walked and Kody King ripped a double to right -center to make it 6-5. Cypress brought in Connor Artasere to replace Tate Belfanti. With a 3-0 count, Ryan Castro was walked intentionally to set the stage for Regan. Regan promptly banged a hard ground ball up the middle and through into centerfield to drive in two and touch off a San Dimas celebration.
It was the second three- run deficit the Saints had overcome as they were also down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth. King started for the Saints and threw four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the top of the fifth. He only allowed two hits in the first four innings.
Cypress broke through when Antonio Lujan drove a pitch over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead. With two outs Nick Montgomery drew a walk and Justin Tillar hit a shot that was last seen traveling east over the city of La Verne. It was suddenly 3-0 Cypress.
The lead didn’t last long however as the Saints immediately got even in the bottom half. Jude Favela hit one high, deep and gone to left field to get the Saints on the board. Jayden Medina then took advantage of a bad throw from third base and scooted into second base on the error. Nauretz then laid down a bunt but the throw to first hit him and he was safely aboard. The Cypress skipper argued that it was interference but to no avail. Coleman Vaughn walked to load the bases and White also walked to force in a run. A wild pitch plated another run to tie it at three.
The Centurions regained the lead in the sixth on a double by Noah Johnson and an RBI single by Lujan.
Cypress upped the advantage to 6-3 in the top of the seventh on a couple of walks a hit a batter, a throwing error and a wild pitch putting San Dimas in a desperate situation.
This just set the stage for a miraculous San Dimas rally and the Saints were able to do exactly that.
Castro and Khansarinia followed King to the mound for San Dimas. Cypress used four pitchers on the day. Aiden Franco worked the first four and one-third innings.
San Dimas will face Harvard-Westlake, which knocked off Bonita, in the Division 1 Quarter-Finals Friday.
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