Giants set for home debut Feb. 14 vs. Gavilan, Sierra

By Nick Giannandrea

COS Athletics

After opening the season with nine straight games on the road, College of the Sequoias' softball team is about to settle in for some home cooking.

The Giants (4-5) will play their next nine games within the comfy confines of their campus park, starting Feb. 14 with games at 10 a.m. against Gavilan (2-0) and at 2 p.m. against Sierra (5-2).

Local fans can also catch COS this weekend during a doubleheader Feb. 15 against Chabot (2-7), with games scheduled for noon and 2 p.m.

The homestand continues with a doubleheader against Modesto (2-2) on Feb. 20 (1 and 3 p.m.); against West Valley (6-1) and San Mateo (11-1) at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, Feb. 22; and the Giants' Central Valley Conference opener against Merced (1-9) at  2 p.m. Feb. 27.

After getting off to a 1-5 start, COS has won three straight, including 7-0 victory at Bakersfield on Feb. 11.

Olivia Aguigam (El Diamante High) pitched a three-hitter -- her third straight shutout -- to lead the Giants. Aguigam walked three while striking out eight.

Offensively, Madelyn Duran (Tulare Western) singled and knocked in three runs for COS.

Audra Pratt (Golden West) powered the Giants' 13-hit attack by going 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Genesis Rodriguez (Selma), Maddison Servadio (Mission Oak), Alexis Garcia (Orange Cove) and Emily Ibarra (Redwood) all collected two hits for COS, with Ibarra contributing a double and two RBI. Felicity Morales (Dinuba) had the Giants' other hit.

COS is out to compete for a third straight conference championship, and a fourth straight trip to the Northern California Regional playoffs.