Break out the brooms, because on Saturday, February 26, the COS Giants completed a three-game sweep of the Porterville Pirates. A sweep in itself is impressive, but when done by outscoring your opponents by 31 runs over the three-game timespan, it is downright awe-inspiring.

For Head Coach Jody Allen, a sweep was not only impressive but also meant he could get players more time in the box and on the field.

“When you go into a series and you’re fortunate enough that you can get the third one that’s always a good deal. It’s always nice when you can get a lot of guys action, which we could do because our offense just kept getting better offensively.”

Allen continued by saying, “It’s really gratifying to let everyone get an opportunity, and it helps you. I think things like that are important early on in the year, to get those guys that experience.”

The Giants were not only given opportunities, but also seized hold of them with a force that has not yet been seen this season. With three dominant games, there was no question as to who the better team was.

The first game of the series on February 24 in Visalia was a bit closer than the others, finishing at 8-4 by the end of the game. Some standout performances from that game were shortstop Logan Schweizer going 2-4 with a run scored, and second-baseman Lee Trevino going 3-4 with a run scored.

Additionally, Rider Hartman knocked a pinch-hit single that scored two runs, and Elijah Cortez finished the day with an impressive three walks in five at-bats.

On the pitching side of things during the first game, Jake Tye was the starter. He pitched for only 4.2 innings while giving up the only four runs that Porterville would finish the game with, also giving up six hits. Cristian Garcia pitched for 2.1 innings, allowing two hits on two strikeouts and a walk.

J.T. Friesen, former CVC saves leader, came in to pitch the last two innings and notched the save while allowing only three hits.

During the second game on Friday the 25th, COS won 10-1, thanks in large part to the offense starting to warm up their bats. For offense, Lee Trevino stayed hot with another 3-4 game, scoring two runs with two walks this time around. Logan Schweizer scored two runs as well, going 1-3 with a walk.

Flavio Perez scored two runs on a single for his one hit of the game. Elijah Munoz rocketed a double during the 3rd to obtain two runs batted in(RBI).. Once again, Elijah Cortez continued his walk parade with another three walks.

Pitching was a much more simple affair, with Riley Creech finding a groove against Porterville on Friday. He struck out four batters and allowed only one run, pitching seven innings in 85 pitches. Dylan See came in to close the game out, throwing two innings and striking out one.

Riley Creech serves as an example of Coach Allen’s mindset when it comes to pitching. As one of the premier pitchers on the team last year, Creech was able to relieve and start effectively, and often would switch between the two throughout the year. This year, that is again to be expected of this pitching staff.

Allen explained, “We go after each game individually, however we need to use guys we’ll use, so our deal is that we are trying to play 27 innings a week. And whatever the best case scenario is to try and win those games, we will use those guys to do it.”

More than anything, getting experience is a main focus for the pitching staff, just as it is for the guys in the lineup.

Allen continued with, “I think more than anything else, we’re getting guys experience, and obviously a couple guys have started more than relieved, and that’s fine but we want guys to be in both roles and give us some solid innings”

Going into the last game on the 26th, there is so much offense that explaining it all would take the rest of your day, with the final score of Saturday’s slugfest being 21-3 in favor of COS. Either way, I’m going to talk about it. Or rather, write to you about it, but you know what I mean.

At a glance, Lee Trevino continued his hitting streak in this series with just one hit, but scored two runs. Right Fielder Jackson Brooks obtained five RBIs while going 3-6, and scored six runs himself along the way. Shortstop Logan Schweizer went 2-5, but scored two runs and batted in four, including a grand slam.

Flavio Perez went 4-7, with three RBIs and one run scored. Catcher Andrew Pompa scored one run while going 2-2 with two RBIs. Designated Hitter(DH) Chase Gomez went 2-2 while scoring two runs and walking once. Center Fielder Mike McKernan went 1-4, but scored three runs and walked twice.

That pretty much covers the offense, so let’s take a look at the pitching. COS used five pitchers during the last game, with Tyce Ochs being the starter. He pitched five innings, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out nine. Julian Lopez, Stephen Dean, Cole Schimpf, and Austin Fleck all pitched one inning, collectively allowing no runs and three walks, as well as three hits.

Got all that? Trust me, it was a lot to watch, and there will be a lot more to watch this season as the Giants take on the Merced Blue Devils starting Tuesday, March 1, and ending on Saturday, March 5.

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