4/27: Sitting in the second position after Friday’s convincing win over Terra Linda, the Giants have worked their way into a probable playoff spot in the final four. After Marin Catholic came from behind to defeat Drake on the same night, Redwood sits at second place in the MCAL standings, above MC and below Tam in the hard-fought pennant race going into the final week of play. At 10 and 4, the boys are responsible for their own fate.
On Friday night, the Giants made quick work of the Trojans, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. Matt Birchenough lead off with a single. Jarod Robinow, again, laid down a perfect bunt, advancing Birchenough to second base. Genki LeClair then singled to left field, scoring Birch (1-0). Jackson Barry scorched one over the left field fence, just foul. The gloveman then singled to left, advancing LeClair to third base. Ben Cohen put the ball in play and with the fielder’s choice, scoring LeClair. Barry would be called out advancing to second. Jack Morken was hit by a pitch, putting Cohen at second base. Lucas Roy stroked one to left field, scoring Ben Cohen to finish the offensive start (3-0).
In the top of the second, Jackson Reed crushed a ball to deep left field, landing on second base. Jarod Robinow would get walked and Genki LeClair got hit by a pitch, leaving Reed at third and Jarod at second base. After some malfeasance, Ben Cohen would drive a ball to center field, scoring Robinow and LeClair (5-0). Terra Linda would make the game close with three runs in the bottom half of the second (5-3).
The Giants recaptured a run in the third, after a Jake Nordstrom walk and Matt Birchenough timely hit to left, scoring Jake Nordstrom (6-3). In the top of the fourth, Jackson Barry sent a ball to left field. Zack Gordon would enter the game as a courtesy runner for Barry. Ben Cohen then drove the ball to left field, scoring Zee Gordon from second base (7-3) after four.
The Giants forced a lopsided score in the top of the seventh. Lucas Roy was walked. Jake Nordstrom advanced Roy with a bunt. Satoshi Miki hit a hard grounder to second, scoring Roy after the Trojan error. Matt Birchenough and Sam Warren lured walks. LeClair then singled to left, scoring Miki and Birchenough, leaving Warren at third base and LeClair at second base. Jackson Barry put his stamp on the game with a no doubter over the left field fence with a three-run homerun to finish the game. Final score: 13-3.
The Giants tallied fifteen hits on the day, committing no errors. The pitchers, Jackson Bender, Ben Cohen, and Matt Smalbach combined for a convincing five hit, five strikeout win on the hill. The Giants face the San Rafael Bulldogs on Tuesday, April 30th, at San Rafael High School and finish regular season play against cross-creek rivals, Marin Catholic, on Thursday May 2nd at Marin Catholic High School – first pitch: 4:30 p.m. Go Giants!