Griffins rocking title tune at Coachella

2017 GROSSMONT GRIFFINS BASEBALL

 

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

 

PALM DESERT – The Grossmont Griffins brought their own legendary hit-makers to the Coachella Valley Tuesday afternoon, blanking College of the Desert, 8-0, to move to one-step closer to a second-straight Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship.

TIM HOLDGRAFER, out of La Jolla High, went five shutout innings to improve to 7-0 and NOAH STROHL, also a former Viking, hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning as the Griffs’ offense was in concert once again.

Grossmont improved to 20-2 in the PCAC and 27-7-1 overall. Meanwhile, down in Chula Vista, Palomar (19-3 PCAC) won at Southwestern, 10-5, to remain one-game back in the pennant race.

The Griffins host Desert (8-14 PCAC, 20-18) on Thursday, then travel again back for what should be an encore performance on the way to the conference title. The Comets, however, only have the one home game left with the third-place Jaguars (14-8 PCAC, 25-13) on Thursday before finishing on the road against the Jags on Friday.

In other words, Grossmont’s title fate is in its own hands.

All the remaining games start at 2 p.m.

CABOT VAN TIL kept his awesome second-half roll going with RBI singles in the top of the second and the fourth as Grossmont led 2-0.

Van Til, who is headed to San Diego State, was named PCAC Male Athlete of the Week on Monday for his series against Palomar.

REECE HERNANDEZ had two hits, a walk and scored two runs for Grossmont, while DAVID MALDONADO had a pair of doubles and scored a run for the Griffs. TREVOR BEARD drove in a couple of runs for the Griffins, as well.

Freshman NIKO NAVARRO singled home a run in Grossmont’s two-run sixth.

Freshman DYLAN GARGUS, from Canyon Crest High, became the latest Griff to get a chance to shine in this special season.

Gargus had a career-best outing with two scoreless innings, taking over for Holdgrafer in the sixth.

With only eight appearances this season, Gargus has hit to sit on some rough stats after a couple of early troublesome outings, but he has now turned in four consecutive scoreless outings.

Conditions were comfortable here with a game-time temperature of 88 degrees. Friday is predicted a tad warmer at 93, which should make water cooler baths feel that much better.

Grossmont is assured a playoff spot.

 

 

Grossmont 8

Desert 0

 

 

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