Gridley junior pitcher Garrett Francis (7) tosses a pitch against Central Valley on Friday, March 15, in the Bulldogs 7-6 victory. 

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs baseball team ended last week with a win that was much needed as they beat the Central Valley Falcons 7-6 on Friday, March 15.

Gridley lost its first two games of the week to West Valley, 10-2, and Red Bluff, 6-0, between Wednesday, March 13, and Thursday, March 14.

Bulldogs Head Coach Quinn Spring said errors were the killer in the loss to West Valley as Gridley committed six errors throughout the game. It should be noted that the playing conditions with the wind gusts over the past week have not been normal, so some of these errors have been uncommon for everyone.

 Gridley senior infielder Emmet Smallwood (12) lines a base hit in the Bulldogs’ 7-6 win over Central Valley on Friday, March 15.

In the loss to Red Bluff on March 14, the Bulldogs were held to one hit throughout the day, and after senior outfielder Cesario Villalobos struggled to find the strike zone on the mound for Gridley in his first start of the season, as he walked six batters in two innings.

 Gridley junior shortstop Gus Stogsdill (3) fields a ground ball in the Bulldogs’ 7-6 victory over Central Valley on Friday, March 15.

Villalobos did strike out four batters and give up four hits and six earned runs in his two innings of work. Bulldogs senior pitcher Emmet Smallwood came in relief in the third inning and shut down the Red Bluff lineup as he pitched five innings, surrendered three hits and struck out eight hitters.

Spring told the Herald that he is waiting for someone to take the helm of the leadership qualities on the team. He added that leadership has been spread apart throughout the team, and different guys are stepping up at different times. He expressed to the Herald that guys who are not typically vocalized show it in different ways they take action on the field.

 Gridley junior pitcher Garrett Francis (7) tosses a pitch against Central Valley on Friday, March 15, in the Bulldogs’ 7-6 win. 

In the lone victory of the week over Central Valley, junior pitcher Garrett Francis got the start and gave up three runs in the first couple innings of his start.

In the bottom of the second inning, Gridley had the bases loaded with no outs, but after a popout and two consecutive strikeouts, the threat ended.

After a 35-minute injury delay in the top of the third inning, the Bulldogs woke up in the bottom of the fourth as they took a 4-3 lead after senior catcher Bryar McWilliams run-batted-in (RBI) single. McWilliams was one of four Gridley hitters that had a multi-hit game against the Falcons.

Central Valley took the lead back in the following half-inning after they strung together a couple hits off Francis. Francis pitched five innings in the game, gave up five hits and struck out six Falcons. Bulldogs sophomore infielder/pitcher Eli Punzo came in relief in the sixth inning and pitched the rest of the game for Gridley.

After the game went to extra innings after both teams added another run, sophomore infielder Jason Davis Jr. walked the Bulldogs off to victory with a bases-loaded RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning. The walk-off single propelled Davis Jr. to the team lead in RBI’s with six in the early part of the season.

 Gridley senior catcher Bryar McWilliams (9) swings at a pitch in the Bulldogs’ 7-6 victory over Central Valley on Friday, March 15.

Gridley was scheduled to hit the road this past Tuesday and Wednesday to Los Molinos and Winters before they are scheduled to host West Valley today at 4 p.m.

The Bulldogs have Butte View League play next week against Corning.