Story by Brendan Hamilton
TAFT, CA - A fine sunny Tuesday saw the Fresno City College Rams come into town to play the Taft College Baseball Cougars. Being the newly acquainted number 1 ranked team in the state, they got out to a sizzling start. A homerun in the first, and two runs in the second saw Fresno take a commanding 5-0 lead to open the game. Taft pitcher Eric Godinez found his stride after the first two innings allowing the Cougar offense to catch up. A Jesus Gonzalez RBI double opened the scoring for Taft in the bottom of the third making the score 5-1. The Cougars came back with three runs via Manny Esparza, Odnal Rivera, and Yadriel Reyes in the fourth to narrow Fresno's lead. Fresno did not fold, scoring three runs in the sixth, putting them up 8-4.
A massive eight inning saw Taft score 7 runs to reverse the lead. After an Elijah Olaybal walk to start the inning, Owen Hayes singled, as well as Odnal Rivera to load the bases. Brendan Hamilton came up and hit a two RBI double to kick off scoring in the inning. A pitching change and a wild pitch allowed Rivera to score, and Yadriel Reyes hit a single, tying the game at eight a piece. Yuki Ochida then walked, and Jackson Berry came to the plate. On a first pitch fastball Berry drilled a ball over the left field fence, putting Taft up 11-8. Kaleb Hay came into the game and shut the door allowing Taft to win 11-8.
Next Cougar baseball game is on Thursday, April 4 in Taft due to rain in Fresno. Saturday's game will be on April 6 will be in Fresno City College.