Bulldogs Close Out March with Sweep of Corning
Apr 04, 2024 03:56PM ● By Steven Bryla, photos by Steven Bryla
GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The low-rostered Gridley Bulldogs baseball team swept the Corning Cardinals in the opening series of Butte View League play between Tuesday, March 26, and Thursday, March 28, and are getting much needed rest this week.
The two victories over Corning made it six consecutive victories for the Bulldogs as they ended March on a strong note.
In the BVL opener against Corning on March 26, the Bulldogs had one substitute in the dugout. Gridley sophomore pitcher Tanner Abbott pitched his first two innings in about a three-week span as he looked great with his control and mechanics. Abbott gave up one hit, but struck out four hitters in his outing.
Gridley sophomore first baseman Tanner Abbott (5) hits a double in the Bulldogs’ 5-2 victory against Corning on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs went up 1-0 in the first inning after junior infielder/pitcher Garrett Francis hit a runs-batted-in (RBI) single in the first.
Gridley sophomore infielder/pitcher Jason Davis Jr. took over for Abbott in the third inning and the right-hander pounded the zone and made the glove pop constantly. Davis Jr. pitched the remaining five innings where he surrendered two runs, two hits and sent 11 Cardinals back to the bench on strikes.
Davis expressed to the Herald that the key to being successful against Corning was trusting his defense behind him.
Gridley sophomore first baseman Tanner Abbott (5) tags out a runner in a pickle during the Bulldogs’ 5-2 victory versus Corning on Tuesday, March 26.
The leading hitter for the Bulldogs in the first game of the series was senior outfielder Cesario Villalobos as he had a double in the second and followed up with a triple in the fourth inning.
Villalobos told the Herald he has changed up his stance in the box recently and that had been one of the attributes to his great hitting lately. He added another couple hits in the Gridley 10-2 victory over Corning on March 28.
Gridley has been battling throughout the season with a smaller roster than most people realize as they have carried 10-11 players for the first half of their schedule.
Gridley senior outfielder Cesario Villalobos (8) rounds second base during his triple in the Bulldogs’ 5-2 win against Corning on Tuesday, March 26.
Villalobos expressed to the Herald that the guys are committed to the team and staying healthy the best way they can. Although the Bulldogs roster, it still doesn’t change the reputation of the great success they had last season as being the defending CIF Northern Section Division III Champions and making it into the CIF NorCal Final against Sutter.
Being the defending champs, Gridley knows they are going to get everyone’s best effort every game they play. Villalobos and Davis Jr. told the Herald they expect to get everyone’s best and they are going to continue making everyone continue to give them their best shot.
In the Bulldogs series sweep over Corning on March 28, senior infielder/pitcher Emmet Smallwood shutout the Cardinals in five innings of relief pitching where he struck out 10 and gave up three hits.
Gridley will have time to rest and recover as they had no scheduled games this week. They are scheduled to open BVL play back up next week as they are scheduled to play at Oroville next Tuesday.
Gridley senior catcher Bryar McWilliams follows through on his swing in the Bulldogs’ 5-2 victory against Corning on Tuesday, March 26.
