Story by Brendan Hamilton
TAFT, CA – Game 1 of the 4-game set of baseball between Taft College and West Hills College Coalinga was an action-packed affair. West Hills got out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Taft responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Coalinga poured it on in the second inning, scoring 5 runs to take back the lead, 6-2. Taft scrapped back tying the game in the bottom half of the second inning 6-2 after a couple of singles and wild pitches by West Hills. An unrelenting West Hills offense saw them put up 7 runs in the top of the third inning, giving them a commanding 13-6 lead. However, Taft responded by scoring 4 in the fifth inning, and 3 in the sixth via 3 RBI singles and a three-run homerun by Jackson Berry. Taft then scored 2 runs in the eighth inning to take the lead for the first time since the first inning. Coalinga responded with one run in the eighth inning, but it was not enough, and the final score was 15-14 Taft.
In Coalinga, Game 2 of the series was also filled with action as once again, teams scored early and often. The Cougars went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning but were quickly matched by 2 West Hills runs in the bottom of the inning. Coalinga then scored 4 in the bottom of the third to gain the lead 6-2. Taft responded in the fifth and sixth innings scoring 2 and 5 runs, respectively. In the innings an Owen Hayes 3 RBI double along with an Elijah Olaybal RBI single and a couple of free passes contributed to the scoring. The bottom of the sixth saw West Hills score 2 runs to tie the game 8-8. However, the Cougars put up 5 runs in the eighth and ninth innings courtesy of a couple of singles and a Jesus Gonzalez bomb to take a 13-8 victory.
Taft College is currently 10-7 in conference play and 16-15 overall.