Giants baseball sweeps Fresno City to open season
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
More than a year after having one of the best starts in school history halted in progress by the coronavirus pandemic, College of the Sequoias' baseball team has picked up where it left off.
The Giants, who were 18-4 last March when the California Community College Athletic Association canceled all spring sports because of Covid-19 safety precautions, opened the 2021 season with a doubleheader sweep of rival Fresno City on April 11.
Sequoias used a four-run fifth inning -- highlighted by a run-scoring single from Nate Gilson (El Diamante High) -- as a springboard to a 9-1 Central Valley Conference win over the Rams in the first game. Mike McKernan (Mt. Whitney) had an RBI fielder's choice and Payton Allen (Golden West) added a sacrifice fly in the fifth for the Giants.
The Giants made it 7-0 in the sixth inning as Andrew Valdez (El Diamante) scored on a wild pitch and The Master's University commit Davis Beavers (Redwood) delivered a two-run single.
Elijah Cortez (Central-Fresno) put Sequoias ahead 9-1 in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run home run.
That would be more than enough support for Giants' pitchers Cristian Garcia (Hanford), Anthony Torres (Exeter) and Riley Creech (El Diamante).
Garcia started and worked a perfect two-thirds of inning before Torres (1-0) came on to pitch 4 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out one.
Riley Creech pitched the final four innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out five to earn the save.
Andrew Valdez went 3 for 4 to pace Sequoias' seven-hit attack.
Sequoias got off to a quick start during a 3-2 win over the Rams in the second game as Andrew Valdez belted a two-run home run in the top of the first inning.
Donte Valdez (Redwood), who had singled, scored on Andrew Valdez' homer.
The Giants went ahead 3-0 in the second inning as Flavio Perez Jr. (Hanford) and Cortez singled ahead of an RBI sacrifice bunt by Beavers.
Tyce Ochs (Golden West) started for Sequoias and was followed by Zach McCorvey (El Diamante) and James Freisen (Immanuel-Reedley) out of the bullpen.
Ochs gave up one earned run over 4 2/3 innings while striking out three.
McCorvey, who missed all of last season because of Tommy John surgery, earned the win as he gave up one earned run in 1 1/3 innings.
Freisen pitched three scoreless innings with three strikeouts to pick up the save.
The Giants continue CVC play April 13 when they travel to Taft (0-1) for a 2 p.m. game.
Sequoias will make its home debut at 2 p.m. April 14 against Taft.
Attendance is limited to members of a player's household only. General admission will not be allowed because of Covid-19 safety precautions. The game will be live streamed at https://vimeo.com/event/884886.
