After dominating the first two games of the series (13-2 & 15-2), the Saturday matchup between Reedley College and West Hills Coalinga was exciting 6-5 win, The time was the perfect time to break a modest three-game losing streak on Feb. 20 in Reedley. The Tigers had lost three after starting 2024 with seven straight wins.

In that series opener, Will Gagnon (3-1) struck out 10 in five innings as the Tigers opened Central Valley Conference action with a 13-2 victory over the 1-10 Falcons.

Both teams recorded eight hits but West Hills was charged with six errors. Five of the Reedley runs were unearned.

The Tigers wasted little time offensively, scoring three times in the first. Dusty Vela moved back into the leadoff spot and reached base (without a base hit) in all five plate appearances. Singles by Mikey Ramírez and Brody Block combined with the first Falcon error and two sacrifice flies for three runs.

Falcon starter Aidan Melendrez (0-2) allowed  just two hits in five innings. Gagnon did not walk a batter after struggling a bit in his last two starts. The UCLA-bound righthander now has 54 strikeouts, 18 more than the second place pitcher.

In Coalinga on Thursday, Reedley cruised to a 15-3 win over the Falcons. Vela and Block both had big days at the plate. Gio Groppetti pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Reedley faces Merced this week. Due to the weather forecast the normal schedule has been changes.  The tigers will be at Merced on Tues & Thurs for 2pm games; and HOME on Wednesday at 2pm.  The 4-8 Blue Devils went 1-2 last week, falling to Cosimmes River 16-3; defeating Bakersfield 8-7 and dropping a 7-6 contest to Folsom Lake on Saturday.

After sweeping COS last week, Fresno City is also 3-0 in conference actions. The Rams' eight-game winning streak includes a 25-11 win on Saturday. Both the Tiges and the Rams sit atop of the Central Valley Conference standings at 3-0 after week one of conference play. 

By Will Goldbeck.