Cougars Start Off Season Hot
By Nick Kawano
The 2016 Taft College baseball season officially started Friday January 29, 2016, after a 21-15 record last year and just missing out on the playoffs. The Cougars look to redeem themselves with some returning players and some new faces.
Head Coach Vince Maiocco and the Cougars wanted to make a statement right from the get go. It would not be easy though as Taft would host #5 ranked Feather River.
The Cougars gave the ball to #23 Robby Brewster. Robby was named to the pre-season all-star team in the fall. The Cougars got off to a hot start as they put up two runs in the first and three in the third, taking a commanding 5-1 lead.
Robby pitched very well for his first start of the year pitching 5 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 8 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4. Feather River added a little drama to the game in the 6th inning when they put up three runs to cut the Cougars lead to one.
Taft would answer right back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 6th to break the game wide open. TCs’ offense lead the way with Travis Turner, Richard Ortiz, and Austin Pendergrass all collecting two hits apiece.
Will Moore and Shane Kotz pitched a combined 3 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit with a pair of strikeouts to help shut the door. Taft would go on to beat the Eagles by the score of 9-4, starting off the season with a win.
Robby said, “It was a good win, we were ready to play and it showed. This is a hard-working group and this was a good step in the right direction.”