Local sports roundup: Granite tennis rolls

BOYS TENNIS
GRANITE 9, CORCORAN 0
Granite Hills continued to roll through the ESL, winning its fourth straight league match by a 9-0 score to improve to 4-0 in league. Granite has won seven matches by a 9-0 score this year.

In singles for Granite, Milton Ramirez won 8-3, Luciano Moreno won 8-0, Victor Yanez won 8-1, Winston Thao gave his opponent his first loss of the season in an 8-6 win, Justin Thao won 8-2 and German Chavez played through a hand injury to win 8-6

In doubles for Granite, Ramirez and Yanez won 8-1, Moreno and Winston Thao won 8-3 and Danny Madrigal and Kyle Norman won 8-2.

CVC 6, PHS 3

Porterville continued its tough preseason schedule, falling to Central Valley Christian, which featured two top players in Andrew Gong, who’s ranked second in the Valey, and Bailey Gong.

“Obviously, they’re strong at the top,” Porterville coach Kurt Nielsen said. “It thought it could be a 6-3, 5-4 type of match.”

Christian Marquez almost forced a 3-3 tie after singles play for PHS before falling 2-6, 6-3, (8-10). In singles for Porterville, Jacob Gallardo won 6-0, 6-1 and Mario Aguilar won 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

In doubles for PHS, Alex Linares and Gabe Marquez won 9-8 (7-5). Porterville’s other doubles teams, Dale Murray and Christian Marquez and Giacomo Catalina and Aguilar also played well as both teams lost 5-8.

Murray and Christian Marquez took on a team featuring Bailey Gong while Catalina and Aguilar were facing a team featuring Andrew Gong. Catalina was serving with two game points at 40-15 to bring PHS to within 6-7 before CVC went on to win the match.

PHS is 3-5 against a tough schedule. “I’m pleased,” Nielsen said. “We’re competing, not giving anything away, making them work for what they earn.”

SOFTBALL
LINDSAY 26, GRANITE 1
It was a rough road trip for the Granite Hills softball team, as it dropped a 26-1 loss on the Cardinal diamond at Lindsay High Tuesday.

Lindsay took command early, scoring eight runs in the first and second innings, and adding nine more in the third, many of them unearned.

“Obviously, it was a good day for us,” Lindsay coach Brett Kendig said. “Our pitchers did well, and we had no errors.”

Leading the offense for the Cardinals were Marissa Knutson, who was 2-for-2 at the plate with a triple and four RBI, and Kassidy Kendig, who was also 2-for-2, tattooing a double, three RBI and scoring four runs.

Lina Padilla was 1-for-1 with three RBI and four runs. Christina Castro was 1-for-2 with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored. Daisy Rodriguez was 1-for-1 with an RBI and two runs. Alexis Gutierrez was 1-for-4 with three RBI.

Scoring the Lady Grizzlies’ only run was Ashlee Halopoff, who was 1-for-2 with a solo home run in the third. Christina Medina was 1-for-1, and Janely Cerda was 1-for-2 for Granite.
Winning pitcher for the Cardinals was Padilla, who went three innings, issuing no walks, giving up just two hits and striking out five batters.

Closing the game for Lindsay was Kassidy Kendig, who pitched two innings, striking out two and giving up one hit.