FCC Continues Winning Streak vs West Hills

After two previous wins with an identical score of 8-4 against Merced at home and West Hills away, it was crucial for Fresno City College to get another victory at home.

The FCC baseball team is looking to start the second half of conference play with a strong performance, and needed a win at home against West Hills Coalinga.

The game began with FCC’s starting pitcher, Zac Whittaker, letting the first batter he faced get a single to left field, but after that he went on to strike out the next two batter he faces. With help from his defense, the runner he had allowed on base was caught trying to steal second base.

FCC was able to score thanks to infielder Sal Esparza who was able to connect a single to left field that brought in outfielder Isaac Rivera for the score.

Whittaker continued his pitching performance, not allowing a single run and getting two more batters to strike out in the inning.

The offense came out strong in the bottom of the second inning with three more runs scored by the designated hitter Jacob Paradine. Paradine stole home on a wild pitch, catcher Kyle Atkins scored on error, along with Levi Zosky.

In the next inning, West Hills was able to get on the board thanks to infielder, Alante Uribe, whose single hit third base and stayed fair, allowing runner infielder Trent Bollman to score. Whittaker was able to get out of the inning with no more runs allowed.

For the bottom of the fourth inning, the Rams offense exploded with six batters reaching base and runs being scored by infielder Michael Beltran, outfielder Nick Sheehan, infielder Eddie Pena, and Paradine.

Whittaker pitched for six complete innings allowing only five hits, one run and striking out seven opponents.

The Rams found success with the bat again in the bottom of the sixth, when infielder RJ Hartmann hit the ball so hard it seemed like it was never going to come down, but when it came down it did so over the right field wall bringing in outfielder Noah Padilla.

In the top of the seventh, Whittaker was replaced on the mound by Tucker Thomason, who only pitched that inning, but only allowed one hit and walked one runner.

FCC went on to use two more pitchers in the game Daniel Ross who didn’t allowed any runs in the eighth inning and got two strikeouts and Tallon Thomason who closed out the game and allowed only one run by West Hill who tried to mount a comeback but the Rams defense didn’t allowed it.

“our offense put us ahead in the game and continue to take pressure of our pitching.” said Tucker Thomason after the game.

“Hartmann and Whittaker where a big deal for us today” said Coach Ron Scott after the game. He also commented about being ready for the last part of conference play “I think we are going to play well, and compete for a state championship we’ve won 17 of our last 20 games so we just have to keep going.