TAFT, CA – Coming off a big win against the Fresno City Rams, the Taft College Cougars baseball Team took on the West Hills College Coalinga Falcons. Taft was the location of the game, and the Cougars rode built up momentum into the early innings of the game when Jackson Berry hit a leadoff homerun. Another homerun in the second inning, this time a two-run blast by Brendan Hamilton added to the Taft lead making the score 3-0. Jackson Berry hit his second solo homerun of the game in the fourth, Jesus Gonzalez drilled a two-run single in the fifth, and Owen Hayes capped off the rally with a two-run shot of his own in the fifth.
West Hills would score 1 in the fourth to begin their scoring fiesta. With the game sitting at 8-1 West hills rallied, scoring 1 in the fifth, 4 in the sixth, and 2 in the seventh to tie the game 8-8. Taft responded with an Elijah Olaybal solo bomb, and a Jesus Gonzalez double off the wall. Down by three, West Hills joined the homerun parade with a solo homerun of their own ninth, but it was too little too late and the Cougars took the game 11-9.
Taft College has an 18-15 overall record, while sitting at 12-7 CVC. The Cougars currently stand 2 games out of 1st place behind Fresno City College, 1 game out of 2nd place behind Merced College and they hold a 2-game lead over Reedley College for 3rd place.
The next TC Cougar baseball game is on Saturday in Taft, against College of the Sequoias at 1:00 pm. There will be a tailgate party starting at 12:30pm. Fans will be able eat free tacos and enjoy games sponsored by Taft College Associated Student Organization.