Taft College - Men's Baseball

The Porterville Pirates hosted the TC Cougars today for the first Cougar away game of the series. Porterville scored one in the first inning to make the game 1-0. TC struggled to get the bats going but were able to have a big seventh inning and score six runs. The TC defense held the Pirates to one run in nine innings and were able to win the game (8-1). TC took the second game of the series and will play Porterville again on Saturday.

The TC Cougars hosted the Porterville Pirates this afternoon. The Cougars picked up one run in the first inning, on a Josh Dickey single to score Anthony Rodriguez from second (1-0). The Pirates were held scoreless in the first and second, but a Josh Howard solo homerun puts the Cougars on the board again (2-0). In the top of the third the Pirates pickup an error and two hits (2-1). The Cougars continue to tack on hits and score another run on a two out hit by Jeremiah Twisselman (3-1). The struggles at the plate continue for the Pirates in the fifth. A Darby Ventura three run shot made the game (5-1). The TC defense continued to hold Porterville at one run, and then the Cougars racked up two more runs in the sixth (7-1). The Pirates worked the bases loaded in the seventh but only cashed in one on a sacrifice fly. The Cougars answered back scoring two runs on five hits in the seventh. Then three more in the eighth, on a two RBI single for Michael Hayes with a sacrifice fly (12-2). The Pirates tacked on one but the Cougars closed out the ninth for their first win against Porterville this season.

The TC cougars hosted the Reedley Tigers today on a rainy Tuesday. Reedley jumped ahead in the first inning with a solo homerun for the Tigers (1-0). The Cougars peppered the ball around the field but couldn't score any until the fourth inning. Tyler Blair drove in two on a double in the fourth for the Cougars (2-1). Solid defense and good pitching made the fifth and sixth innings quick for both teams. In the seventh Reedley worked a base runner to third base and drove him in on a base hit to tie the game at (2-2). After a walk and a base hit Reedley picks up two more on a two out double (4-2). Errors in the eighth gave Reedley one more run, as the Cougars struggles at the plate continued (5-2). With a last effort the Cougars went down swinging and suffered another loss.

The TC Cougars first road game against the Fresno Rams came with an unfortunate loss. Braden Keathley provided the Cougars with a quality start holding the Rams scoreless through the sixth. The Cougars were able to get two runs in the first two innings of play (2-0). In a clean quick game, the Rams were finally able to get two men aboard on two HBP's, to set up a three run homerun for the rams (3-2). Cougars couldn't respond and suffered another loss to the Rams.

Taft College baseball hosted the Fresno Rams again today for the second game of the weeks’ series. The first inning went quietly, but in the second the Rams picked up two off of a homerun and a couple of base hits (2-0). The Cougars started the inning with two base runners in the second but were unable to cash them in. In the top of the third Fresno snuck one more in to make the score 3-0. Through the bottom of the third and the fourth innings the teams displayed good pitching, and fundamentally sound defense to keep the game at 3-0. In the top of the fifth Fresno took control as they tacked on three runs on 4 hits (6-0). Travis Derby led off the bottom of the fifth with his second hit of the game sparking the Cougars. Darby Ventura walks to load the bases, setting up an Austin Christiansen base hit that scores one. Then a costly error, on Fresno’s behalf, with two outs cashes in two more runs for the Cougars (6-3). The sixth and seventh innings were scoreless for both teams. Once again the Rams were held scoreless in the eighth as the TC Cougars looked to chip away at the lead. Perry Rogan led off with a double, but base running mistakes put a stop to the Cougars momentum. In the ninth the Fresno Rams closed the door, rallying to pick up five runs (11-3). The Cougars went quietly in the ninth and found themselves two games down in the series.

Today the TC Cougars took the field against the Fresno City Rams in a conference opener and the first of a 3 game match up. The Rams took control early putting up 3 runs on four hits in the top of the 1st, and tacking on 2 more in the 2nd. The Cougars worked the bases loaded in the 2nd and Darby Ventura, who led off the inning with a single, scored on a passed ball (5-1).

Fresno was held scoreless in the the 3rd but scored one in the 4th on a solo homerun. The Cougars were able to get the bases loaded again in the 5th, but were only able to cash in one leaving the bases loaded (6-2). Both teams displayed solid defense throughout the game and were unable to get anything going until the 9th. Fresno scored 2 in the 9th on a two out double, and three more on a homerun (11-2). The Cougars never managed to get anything started and received the loss, snapping a 7 game winning streak.

Today the TC Cougars took the field against the Monterrey Lobos. The Cougars once again jumped out in front (2-0) in the first inning, on a lead off walk, a single by Dominic McGovern, and a big double by Tyler Blair. In the top of the second the Lobos were able to get one back on a timely double making the score (2-1). Perry Rogan lead off with a single, followed by a triple by Michael Hayes in the bottom of the third for the Cougars. Hayes went on to score later that inning (4-1). The Lobos were held scoreless in the third and fourth, but the TC boys tacked on three more runs on a 2 RBI double by Dominic McGovern, who later went on to score in that inning (7-1). With a turn of events in the top of the sixth the Lobos were able to pick up six runs; on a wild pitch, some timely hitting, and a sac fly to tie the game at (7-7). Travis Derby led off the bottom of the sixth with a base hit to left and later scored the go ahead run on a base hit by Darby Ventura. After the Lobos were held scoreless in the seventh, the Cougars worked the bases loaded, which set up a Travis Derby grand slam and first homerun of the season (12-7). Both teams tacked on one more run, and the Cougars win the slugging contest to sweep the week and extend their win streak to six. (13-8).

The TC Cougars worked hastily on a wet field this morning prepping it for their second game against the Lassen Cougars. The TC Cougars continued swinging their bats well today scoring early and scoring often. Darby Ventura hit a homerun (3) in the bottom of the first to put the cougars up early (2-0). Garret Jensen had a great outing and held the Lassen Cougars scoreless until the later innings. The TC Cougars dominated throughout the game pouring on hits and capitalizing on errors. Michael Hayes went 2 for 3, with 2 RBI's a double and a homerun (3) in his effort today. The Lassen Cougars were only able to produce 4 runs late in the game, but it wasn't enough. The TC Cougars were able to get another win as they keep rolling on a five game winning streak.

The Taft Cougars baseball team, on a four game win streak, hosted the Lassen Cougars today. The TC Cougars came out swinging the bats, scoring in three of the first four frames. Michael Hayes and Devan Pearson hit back to back homeruns in the 4th inning, followed by a two run homer by Josh Dickey. The TC Cougars jumped out to a 12-0 lead manufacturing ten runs in the fourth inning alone. In the top of the 5th Lassen chipped away and scored four runs on four hits and two errors. The TC Cougars continued to add to their lead and added five runs in the 7th to make the score 19-4. Hayes, Pearson, Dickey, Ventura, and Christiansen, all had homeruns in Taft's 20-4 victory today.

The TC Cougars took the field Friday against a solid College of the Siskiyous team who was yet to be beaten. The Cougars scored three in the first 6 innings of play and held the Eagles scoreless. In the top of the 7^th,Siskiyous rallied back hitting back to back homeruns to tie the game at (3-3). In the bottom of the 7^th, Anthony Rodriguez led off with a double, and later scored on Josh Dickey's base hit to take the lead. The Cougars tacked on one more in the 8th inning and held on to win it (5-3).

Saturday morning the Cougars faced off against the College of the Siskiyous Eagles for the second time this week. The game started with a display of solid hitting by the Cougars including Darby Ventura's effort of (3-4) with a homerun and four RBI's. The Cougars scored eight runs in the first two innings, but the Eagles answered back in the middle innings scoring six runs on ten hits, making the game (8-6). In the last two innings the Cougars were able to add two more runs for a final of (10-6).

The TC Cougars hosted the Barstow Vikings Sunday to finish off the weekend's play. The Cougars seemed to have their bats with them today; they were able to produce runs in almost every frame. Anthony Rodriguez had a good day at the plate going 3 for 4 with a double, two singles, two RBI's and a stolen base. The Viking were unable to produce and found themselves with a loss. (11-3)

Vince Maiocco begins his sixth season as the Cougars head baseball coach. Maiocco came to Taft College in 2001 and served as an assistant coach until 2004 working under long time head coach and 2007 CCCBCA Hall of Fame Inductee, Tony Thompson. Before coming to Taft College; he coached at Gavilan College in 2001, Delano High School in 2000, and Porterville College in 1999. Maiocco spent the most of his coaching career at College of the Siskiyous from 1988-1998.

The Cougar baseball program has a rich history of developing players for the professional and 4-year collegiate level of baseball. The vast majority of Taft College's graduating sophomores have went on to play at the 4-year collegiate and professional level. It is the coaching staff's obligation to develop players to play at the 4-year collegiate or professional level.

The philosophy of Taft College Baseball is: "Take the academic aspect of college serious, maintain an image on and off the field that sheds a positive light on Taft College, and work hard while practicing and playing the game of baseball!"

Last season the Cougars enjoyed their most successful season in over 15 years, winning 24 games- TC's second most games won in the long history of Taft College baseball. The Cougars also were ranked as high as 12th in the NorCal baseball rankings during the 2009 season.

Head Coach: Vince Maiocco

Assistant Coaches: Jeremy Wedel, Ryan Watson, and Jeff Twist

Athletic Trainer, Bruce Ferguson

Superintendent/President: William Duncan

Vice President of Student Services: Brock McMurray

Athletic Director: Kanoe Bandy

Athletic Secretary: Jennifer Edmaiston