Granite baseball loses a heartbreaker

CORCORAN 4, GRANITE 3
Granite Hills was one strike away from opening the East Sequoia League with a huge win before ESL power Corcoran scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for the win.
In the seventh, Roberto De La Pena, who had come on in relief for Clay Congdon, got the leadoff batter on a comebacker. After a single and a passed ball, De La Pena struck out the next batter. De La Pena then intentionally walked the No. 4 hitter, who had give Corcoran a 2-1 lead with a two-run double in the first, to give the Panthers runners at first and second.
De La Pena went on to work the count to 1-2 to the next batter, who had been 0-for-3, when he allowed a single. The ball was misplayed allowing both runs to score to give Corcoran the win.

Granite took a 1-0 lead in the first when Michael Cruz walked, stole second and third, and scored on on Congdon’s RBI single. Corcoran scored two unearned runs in the first to take a 2-1 lead.

Granite came back to take a 3-2 lead with Steve Delgado picking up an RBI single.
In the fifth, Congdon allowed a leadoff double before giving way to De La Pena, who retired the next three batters to end the threat. Cruz had three stolen bases for Granite.

“It was definitely our best played game of the year,” Granite Hills coach Thad Reece said. “We played real well.”

SOFTBALL

CORCORAN 23, GRANITE 11
Granite had closed to within 13-7 before Corcoran pulled away. Ashlee Halopoff had a huge day for the Grizzlies, going 4-for-4 with a double, triple and five RBI. Also for Granite, Sarah Vehrs and Tracey Carrillo were both 3-for-4 with two RBI.

Granite Hills coach Bryan Rojas said he was pleased with his team’s approach at the plate as it struck out just once.