The throw from the catcher bounces over Foothill second baseman Patrick Petrossi allowing Cypress’ Tyler Vladic to steal second base in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress pitcher Tate Belfanti delivers a pitch against Foothill in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Patrick Petrossi, right is tagged out by Cypress catcher Noah Johnson as he tries to score in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trying to field a bunt laid down by Cypress’ Hibiki Suzuki, Foothill pitcher Caden Lauridsen bobbles the ball allowing Suzuki to reach first and load the bases in the sixth inning in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill pitcher Caden Lauridsen delivers a pitch against Cypress in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress’ Tyler Vladic, left, is tagged out by Foothill second baseman Patrick Petrossi after being caught in a rundown between second and third in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress shortstop Jake de Laquil takes the throw from the catcher to tag out Foothill outfielder Brayden Bianchi trying to steal in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Jaxon Foshay scrambles to get back to the bag at third after he is held up by the third base coach rounding third against Cypress in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress’ Jake de Laquil dives back to the bag at first safely on the late tag by Foothill first baseman Jaxon Foshay in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress’ Jake de Laquil is safe at third as the ball gets by Foothill third baseman Evrett Rycroft in the top of the seventh inning in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress’ Hibiki Suzuki lays down a bunt that Foothill is unable to field in the top of the sixth inning to load the bases in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress outfielder Tyler Vladic scores a run on a sacrifice fly by Ivan Ortiz in a Crestview League baseball game against Foothill in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill shortstop Jason Gugino fires the ball to first to get the Cypress runner in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress’ Gary Hennessy rounds third to score a run in the top of the seventh inning against Foothill in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
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The throw from the catcher bounces over Foothill second baseman Patrick Petrossi allowing Cypress’ Tyler Vladic to steal second base in a Crestview League baseball game in Santa Ana on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
SANTA ANA — Cypress starting pitcher Tate Belfanti acknowledged not having his best stuff in the Centurions’ Crestview League game against Foothill on Friday at Foothill High School.
But the left-hander still had a fine outing, minimizing damage and keeping his team in the game.
And thanks to a perfect two innings of relief from Drew Slevcove, the Centurions were able to come from behind for a 5-3 victory over the Knights.
Cypress (9-3, 2-0), the No. 4 team in the Orange County rankings, trailed by a pair of runs after five innings. After scoring two runs in the sixth to tie the score, Tyler Vladic delivered a two-run single in the seventh to give the Centurions the lead for good.
Slevcove, who entered the game in the sixth, retired all six batters he faced, including four by strikeouts to earn the victory over the No. 6 Foothill (10-5, 1-2).
Cypress shortstop Jake De Laquil also made an outstanding leaping catch for the first out in the sixth.
“Fastball velocity wasn’t there,” said Belfanti, who allowed three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. “I just kind of mixed in my off-speed stuff and try to work through it.”
After Evrett Rycroft doubled to lead off the first for Foothill, Belfanti retired the next three hitters, stranding Rycroft at third.
Brayden Bianchi singled to lead off the second for the Knights, but was caught trying to steal second. Belfanti then struck out the next two hitters.
“He is so good that he kept us in the ballgame,” Cypress coach John Weber said.
Foothill’s Presley Gaborno had a pair of two-out hits, driving in all three of the runs for the Knights.
Gaborno doubled in two runs in the third and singled home a run in the fifth to give the Knights a 3-1 lead.
But the Knights had a runner thrown out at home for the final out of the inning, which proved costly after the Centurions came back.
Gary Hennessey reached on an error to start the sixth for the Centurions, who followed with three hits in a row.
Dylan Keliiholokai singled home a run and then Ivan Ortiz hit a run-scoring sacrifice fly, allowing Vladic to score from third with the tying run and setting the stage for the Centurions’ go-ahead runs in the seventh.
“It was those couple of little things,” Foothill coach Chris Price said. “You just watch it develop … a three-hopper (over) the first baseman’s head, another one (over) the shortstop’s head. It is just the way that inning went.”