As usual, the Central Valley Conference softball title race is going to be a close one.

After bad weather forced changes in the schedule, Porterville leads the eight-team conference with a 1-0 record. Reedley is one of four teams tied for second place at 2-1.

In the rain on March 5, Reedley rolled to 10-0 and 19-0 victories at home over West Hills Coalinga. But two days later, the Lady Tigers fell to the College of the Sequoias Giants 3-1 in Visalia.

Non conference games in Aptos on Saturday against Cabrillo and Shasta were postponed due to rain. Tiger Athletic Director David Santesteban said that the two games will be rescheduled.

A day before the loss to COS, a 15-3 Reedley squad moved up a spot to sixth in the California Community College Athletic Association state rankings. They remained third in the Northern California rankings.

Emily Grimbeby pitched a no-hitter in the first game win over West Hills but was the losing pitcher at COS. In the no-hitter, the right handler walked two and struck out six.

Offensively, Sandra Vallejo drove in four runs which included a three-run double in a six-run second inning. Mariah Hernandez scored three runs while Hunter Young contributed a pair of singles.

Young hurled a four-hit shutout in the nightcap, striking out four in the five-inning contest. Reedley finished with 15 hits and took advantage of nine Falcon errors. Young helped her own cause by driving in three runs with a pair of singles and scoring three times. Samantha Lizaola, Aunika Castellanos, Amanda Beltran, Bobbie Falcon, Sophia Del Bosque and Vallejo joined Young with two hits each.

COS scored all three of their runs in the third inning, using a bunt single, a hit batter and a pair of Tiger errors.

Reedley is back on the road this week, heading to Taft for a Tuesday, March 12 doubleheader before a 1 pm single game on Thursday, March 14 at first place Porterville. The Lady Tigers are scheduled to return home on Tuesday, March 19 for a 1 pm doubleheader with Cerro Coso College.

By: Will Goldbeck