Giants remain atop CVC baseball race after split with Merced

By Nick Giannandrea

COS Athletics

College of the Sequoias' baseball team has maintained the poll position in the Central Valley Conference.

The Giants split two games against Merced this week -- winning 6-4 at home April 20 and losing 6-1 on the road April 21 -- to move to a conference-leading 6-2. Reedley is second at 4-2, followed by Fresno City (3-3), Merced (2-4) and Taft (1-5).

Riley Creech (El Diamante High) turned in a strong start, and Elijah Cortez (Central-Fresno) had a big day at the plate to lead Sequoias (6-2 overall) over the Blue Devils in the first game.

Creech (1-0) allowed one earned run on five hits and three walks over six innings, his longest outing of the season. 

Cortez helped the Giants jump out to a 5-1 lead through five innings with a run-scoring single to cap a three-run first inning, and a two-run home run (his second of the season) in the fifth.

Donte Valdez (Redwood) got Sequoias rolling in the first with a two-run triple that brought home Payton Allen (Golden West) and Andrew Valdez (El Diamante).

The Giants added an insurance run in the seventh when Michael McKernan (Mt. Whitney) singled, went to third on Allen's single and scored on Andrew Valdez' sacrifice fly.

Merced had the tying runs on base with one out in the eighth, but Sequoias' reliever James Freisen came on and induced an inning-ending double play grounder, then worked a scoreless ninth for his state-leading third save.

In the second game, the Giants couldn't solve Merced starter Kody Cardoza, who fired a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts.

Cesar Avila hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and Dylan Webber added a two-run shot in the fifth as the Blue Devils opened a 6-0 lead.

Sequoias' received a run-scoring double by Cortez that scored Donte Valdez in the seventh, but was held hitless the rest of the way.

Jaylen Rodriguez (Redwood) worked 3 2/3 innings of one-hit relief for the Giants, allowing one earned run while striking out three.

Sequoias returns to action April 27 at Fresno City. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

The Giants will also host the Rams at 2 p.m. April 28, and host Taft in a doubleheader May 1, with games set to start at noon and 3 p.m.

Only up to three family members of Giants' players are permitted at Sequoias' home games, with masks and social distancing required.