2/22:      The Giants varsity baseball team improved their pre-season record to 2-0 with a 5 to 1 victory over Rancho Cotati high school. Senior Kyle Felder, was back to form, throwing five innings of shutout baseball. Felder rung up four Cougars while giving up just one walk.

Firenzi waves pinch-runner Zach Gordon home on a Jack Morken single for the Giants fourth run

Redwood’s outburst of offense in the bottom of the third was all it would take to secure the win. Left-fielder, Sam Warren, got things started with a hard-hit ball to left field. Warren would go on to steal second base. Next, after showing bunt, catcher Jake Nordstrom stood up and drove a high fast ball to right field leaving runners on the corners. Shortstop, Jackson Reed, got the Giants on the board with a single to left, scoring Warren (1-0). Center-fielder, Lucas Roy, then laid down a bunt, squeezing Nordstrom across the plate (2-0). Third baseman, Jackson Barry, drove the ball to left, scoring Reed (3-0). Zach Gordon entered the game to run for Barry. First baseman, Jack Morken, joined the hit parade with a shot to center, scoring Gordon from second base (4-0).

In the fifth inning, second baseman, Genki LeClair, led off with a hard-hit ball down the first base line. LeClair would easily steal second base then make his way to third. Nick Welch then drove the ball into deep left-center field, allowing LeClair to easily tag up and head home (5-0). Jackson Barry was given a free base after being hit by a pitch. Barry would go on to successfully steal second, giving his teammates in the dugout much to cheer about.

Alex Hagen entered the game in the sixth inning in relief of Felder. Hagen enticed a ground ball from the Rancho hitter, allowing third baseman, Jackson Barry, to field it cleanly, tag his base and throw out the runner at first. Barry and Morken have combined for two double plays in as many games.

Matthew Smallbach and Jesse Gassman also pitched in relief of Felder. With the Cougars threatening to score, Gassman picked off the runner at second to the end the last real scoring opportunity for Rancho Cotati.

Senior Kyle Felder earned the win, yielding just two hits while striking out four in five shut-out innings

Giants pitching gave up only four hits and one run. Kyle Felder earned the win. Offensively, Jake Nordstrom had two hits on the day and scored a run. Other notables were: Genki LeClair (1H, 1Run), Jackson Barry (1H,1RBI), Jack Morken (1H,1RBI), Nick Welch (1RBI), Sam Warren (1H,1Run), Jackson Reed (1H,1Run,1RBI) and Zach Gordon (1 Run). Final Score: 5-1, Giants.

“It wasn’t flashy”, Firenzi said after the game, “We scored five runs without getting an extra base hit. Our pitchers have given up just two runs in two games and are playing defense.  That’s a great combination when you are executing like we are at the plate.”

The Giants play Vanden High School in Fairfield tomorrow (2/23) at 12 noon. Ben Cohen is expected to get the start.