Golfers take 2nd again
Baseball edged at Diablo Valley, 3-2
Softball falls to Modesto, 3-1
Men’s & women’s tennis defeat Shasta
Men’s golf
It is becoming apparent that the reigning Big 8 Conference champion Folsom Lake Falcons (4 years in a row and counting) will have to step up their game in order win another title in 2020. For the third time in four matches, the Falcons finished second to upstart Napa Valley, this time at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton on Monday. Playing in horrendous 40+ mph wind, the Falcons finished just three strokes behind Napa Valley, 420-423. The Falcons were led by Nathan Jetton, who captured low-medalist honors with his round of 78 and was one of only two golfers to shoot under 80 in the crazy wind. The Falcons now trail Napa by four points at the 1/3 point of the season. They can cut that lead in half with a win on their home course – Rancho Murieta Country Club – on Wednesday in Big 8 Tournament #5.
Team Scores FLC Individuals
1. Napa Valley 420 Nathan Jetton 78
2. Folsom Lake 423 Drew Greco 82
3. Modesto 430 Noah Woehler 84
4. Sierra 463 Steve Bennett 88
5. Delta 464 Kaden Ward 91
6. American River 483 Sam Irvin 97
Nathan Jetton shot a 78 despite the horrid conditions in Stockton on Monday
Baseball
The Falcons traveled to Pleasant Hill on Tuesday with hopes of getting back to .500 in Big 8 play, but lost a close pitcher’s duel at Diablo Valley, 3-2, in the opener of their three-game series with the Vikings. Falcon starter Gabe Emmett returned to form after a disastrous outing last week, holding the Vikings to just one run through five innings. After getting two quick outs to start the sixth, the Vikings put together four hits that scored two runs and knocked Gabe out of the game. Still, the damage was minimal as the Falcons trailed just 3-2. But the offense managed just one hit over the final three innings - a harmless single in the seventh – and the Vikings held on for the narrow win. The Falcons fall to 1-3 in Big 8 play and will play DVC on Thursday at FLC.
Softball
The Falcons were looking to end their mild three-game losing streak on Tuesday afternoon, but the Modesto Pirates would have no part of it. The Pirates jumped in front early with two first-inning runs – aided by a Falcon error - then made that difference stand up as they won, 3-1. The Falcons struggled to square up many balls except for two fourth-inning doubles by Jailene Salciedo and Emma Gaytan which produced their only run. Otherwise, the Pirates kept Falcon hitters off balance and induced weak contact most of the day. The Falcons (15-5 overall, 2-4 in Big 8) will travel to Santa Rosa (11-4, 3-2) for a doubleheader on Saturday.
Jailene Salciedo (left photo) doubled into the right field corner, then scored on Emma Gaytan’s (right) double for the Falcons’ only run against Modesto (photos by Skip Zinn)
Tennis
The Falcon men and women made a long trip on Tuesday worthwhile as they both recorded victories over Shasta College in Redding. The men defeated the Knights, 7-2, while the women celebrated a narrow 5-4 victory. On the men’s side, Drew Murphy, Eric Greer, and Bryce Gehlbach all won in both singles and doubles. The men improved their overall record to 4-3 and evened their Big 8 record at 2-2.
For the women, Mallory Snarr, Alora Gardiner, and Winney Zhao were victorious in both singles and doubles. The victory was the first of the season for the women, who played their first four matches short-handed with just five players.
Both teams will play at Santa Rosa on Thursday afternoon.
Men’s Singles Men’s Doubles
#1 James James won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 James/Schubert lost 3-8
#2 Caleb Ion lost 3-6, 6-7 (7-2) Murphy/Greer won 8-6
#3 Drew Murphy won 6-2, 6-3 Ion/Gehlbach won 8-2
#4 Jeremy Schubert won 6-3, 6-3
#5 Eric Greer won 6-0, 6-1
#6 Bryce Gehlbach won 6-1, 6-1
Women’s Singles Women’s Doubles
#1 Mallory Snarr won 7-6, 6-0 Snarr/Gallegos won 8-4
#2 Pili Gallegos lost 0-6, 0-6 Gardiner/Zhao won 8-1
#3 Alora Gardiner won 6-7 (8-10), 6-3, 6-0 Vaiarello/Gochnauer lost 1-8
#4 Winney Zhao won 6-3, 6-4
#5 Nicci Vaiarello won 6-4, 7-5
#6 Kaitlin Gochnauer lost 1-6, 2-6
Upcoming sports schedule (home events in bold):
Wed Mar 4 Men’s golf at Rancho Murieta CC – Big 8 tournament #5, 11:00 am
Thu Mar 5 M/W tennis at Santa Rosa, 1:00 pm
Baseball vs Diablo Valley at FLC, 2:00 pm
Fri Mar 6 Baseball at Diablo Valley, 2:00 pm
Sat Mar 7 Softball at Santa Rosa, 12 & 2:00 pm
Tue Mar 10 Baseball at Sierra, 2:00 pm
Softball at Delta (Stockton), 3:00 pm