- Golden Valley begins the season 3-0 with wins over Hughson, Franklin, and Beyer.
- Cougars’ bats score double digit runs in the third inning.
The Golden Valley Cougars hosted the Beyer Patriots Friday afternoon for their third game of the season. Golden Valley entered the game undefeated at 2-0, while Beyer came in with a 3-1 record.
The Cougars opened the game with solid defense in the top of the first inning. Golden Valley pitcher Gabriel Richards worked through the Patriots lineup, forcing groundball contact toward the infield and recording three quick outs to keep Beyer off the board. Golden Valley wasted little time generating offense in the bottom half of the inning. Brayden Euker delivered a hit to center field and advanced all the way to third base to put early pressure on Beyer. Moments later, a hit to right field allowed Euker to come home for the first run of the game as the Cougars grabbed the early lead.
Beyer responded in the second inning with their first offensive push. Jordan Capell reached base with a single and later advanced to second base, putting himself in scoring position. Vincent Zappacosta singled into the outfield, allowing Capell to come around and score despite a throw from the outfield to the plate. The play gave Beyer their first run of the game and energized the team. The Patriots continued to build momentum when Buzz Richards followed with a hit to center field, driving Zappacosta home. Later in the inning, Aiden Condon added another timely hit, bringing Jacob Towe across the plate and giving Beyer a 3-1 advantage.
In the third inning, the Cougars unleashed an offensive explosion. They quickly loaded the bases with a combination of hits and walks. Jesus Cruz singled early in the inning, driving in the game tying run, and soon after, David Saldana delivered a hit that gave the Cougars the lead. Defensive errors from Beyer, including a fumbled throw over the catcher’s head, allowed multiple runners to advance and score. When infielder Brayden Euker came to the plate, the bases were loaded, and his well-placed hit sent two more runners to the plate, adding to the lead. By the end of the inning, the Cougars had achieved 14 runs, turning a close score into a commanding 15-3 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Beyer tried to rally against Golden Valley’s lead. The inning began with a walk, putting the first runner on base. Matthew Correia then delivered a hit over third base, driving in Carlos Gil for the first run of the inning. Shortly after, Vincent Zappacosta followed with another RBI hit, his second of the game, keeping the momentum alive. Beyer added four total runs in the inning, cutting the Cougars’ lead to 15-7. Golden Valley added another run in the bottom of the fifth, giving the Cougars a 16-7 lead.
After the fifth inning, the scoring slowed as Golden Valley’s pitching took control. The Cougars leaned on their bullpen and defense, efficiently recording outs in the sixth and seventh innings to finish the game and secure the win.
Golden Valley players Tarun Thiara and Bayden Euker said the team’s mindset played a big role in the win. “Our goal was to play a clean, high-energy game and get on them early,” said first baseman Tarun Thiara. “Even when we had a big lead, we tried to keep our foot on the gas and stay level-headed.”
Shortstop Brayden Euker pointed to the team’s confidence moving forward. “We have a lot of momentum going into the league,” Euker said. “Putting pressure on them early and keeping our energy up was key, and personally, I just try to stay composed and focused every inning.” Their combined effort and focus looks to set the tone for the rest of the season for the Cougars.
With the win, Golden Valley improved their preseason record to 3-0, extending their early-season momentum. Beyer fell to 3-2 and will look to bounce back when they travel to face the Livingston Wolves on March 10 at 4:00 p.m. Golden Valley will travel to Mariposa County to play the Grizzlies on March 9 at 3:30 p.m. for their next game.
- Photos by Grace Gallegos. ↩︎
