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Gridley Herald

Bulldogs Knocked Out

Jun 06, 2024 04:32PM ● By Steven Bryla, photos by Aaron Jackson

Gridley senior pitcher/infielder Emmet Smallwood (12) throws a pitch in the Bulldogs’ 6-4 loss to Oakmont on Tuesday, May 28.


ROSEVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs baseball season came to an end as they were defeated in the opening round of the CIF NorCal Division IV playoffs 6-4 by the top-seeded Oakmont Vikings on Tuesday, May 28.

Gridley could not have started the game any better as they put up four runs in the first inning, and they all came with two outs.

Bulldogs sophomore third baseman Jason Davis Jr. hit a two run-batted-in (RBI) single that was followed up by junior shortstop Gus Stogsdill, who smacked a two-run RBI to give Gridley their only runs of the game.


Gridley senior infielder/pitcher Emmet Smallwood (12) swings at a pitch in the Bulldogs’ 6-4 defeat to Oakmont on Tuesday, May 28.


Bulldogs sophomore pitcher Tanner Abbott got through the first inning with no trouble.

The Gridley lineup was able to manage three more hits through the next six innings as Oakmont senior pitcher Ayden Dringenberg was in the zone and pitched a complete game. 

Dringenberg gave up six total hits, three walks and struck out six.

In the bottom of the second, they took a 5-4 lead and it was all Oakmont for the rest of the game. 


Gridley sophomore pitcher Tanner Abbott (5) tosses a pitch during the Bulldogs’ 6-4 defeat on Tuesday, May 28.


Abbott was relieved in the third inning by senior pitcher Emmet Smallwood, who came in and shut down the Vikings’ hitting lineup for the final four innings.

Smallwood surrendered only two hits and one run, and he struck out three hitters. Smallwood was able to get a hit at the plate.

Bulldogs head coach Quinn Spring told the Herald that he is proud of his team for the accomplishments they have repeated this season as going back-to-back as the Northern Section Division III champions and winning the first Butte View League title in the program since the 2018 season.

“I told the guys how lucky and fortunate they have been the last couple of seasons as when I was a student here, it wasn’t possible like that,” Spring said.

Spring is an alumnus of Gridley from 2016, and in his tenure as a member of the Bulldogs, they reached the NSCIF Division III title and were defeated in the finals in the same year.

Spring told the Herald of the seniors graduating this week that he is proud of them and excited to see them become good young men in the future.

Spring said that if the guys continue working in the future, they will continue to be successful and will build new traditions for the Gridley baseball program.