Gridley, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs secured the number one overall seed in the California Interscholastic Federation Northern Section Division III playoffs and host the entire tournament as they play in the second round today versus the winner of Lassen and Yreka today at 4 p.m.

Gridley split the season series with Butte View League foe Orland last week, they had the higher playoff points in the system that the NSCIF uses with 39.62 compared to Orland’s 37.41.

Bulldogs head coach Javier Solis in his first season at the helm expressed to the Herald it's a good feeling to host the tournament as they do not have to travel. The six teams in the tournament include Orland, Yreka, Lassen, Live Oak and West Valley from Cottonwood.

West Valley finished second in the Northern League standings as Lassen and Yreka finished tied for third place with a 5-5 record in league. 

Gridley (12-5, 5-3 BVL) and Orland tied for second place in the BVL as both teams were swept by Las Plumas and split last week’s series. 

Live Oak finished eighth in the Sacramento Valley League standings with an 0-14 league record. After a 3-0 start to the season with a win over Biggs and two victories over Lindhurst, the Lions didn’t win a game for the rest of the season. 

The Bulldogs will look to get the ball jumping off of their bats as they have eight hits in their last three games compared to their average of six hit hits per game this season. 

The biggest stat for Gridley that Solis has talked to the Herald about religiously every game with the Herald is the runs given up per game.

Solis has exclaimed to the Herald multiple times that if his team doesn’t give up more than five runs, they are going to win.

The Bulldogs are 12-1 when they give up five runs or less with their lone loss coming in the season finale against Orland in a 4-0 loss.

The young pitching staff of Gridley has a 1.99 earned run average (ERA), which is the lowest out of the six team bracket. West Valley and Lassen bring the best hitting lineups as they have identical .291 (Lassen) and .292 (West Valley) batting averages. 

West Valley, Yreka and Lassen are all traveling over 90 miles to play in the tournament as the Bulldogs get to comfortably play in their backyard.

Gridley has not played anyone in the playoffs this season besides Orland. A big positive for the Bulldogs going into the playoff tournament is the historical head-to-head against the other schools. Gridley has a lifetime history winning percentage over all five of the competitors. 

The Bulldogs are led by captain and senior infielder Michael Ryan and junior catcher Bryar McWilliams at the plate with batting averages of .344 (Ryan) and .333 (McWilliams). 

The Gridley pitching staff will continue riding out the season with freshman Tanner Abbott and sophomore Garrett Francis starting the games on the hill along with junior Emmet Smallwood to start as a third option if he isn’t coming in relief. 

Solis expressed to the Herald he has the belief in his team to get the job done as they have throughout the year, now it’s time to execute it all at once.