Rebuilding year for Minarets baseball
The Minarets High baseball team (2-3), the defending West Sequoia League and Central Section D-VI champions, is feeling the affects of last spring’s graduating class that left the Mustangs just two players returning this season. Last season’s team ended the season ranked No. 1 in the state in D-V by Maxpreps.com.
With a team of primarily juniors, and just one senior, Justin McLeod, the Mustangs were blown out by Fresno High 16-1, but came back to beat Hoover 8-7 on Feb. 18, for its first win on the season. A tough 7th inning loss to Madera South was followed with a 8-7 win over Hoover.
The Immanuel Eagles (4-1) traveled to Minarets last week and beat the Mustangs 8-1.
McLeod is off to a red hot start, hitting .750 and leading the team in all categories including hits, slugging percentage, and RBIs.
The Mustangs play at Firebaugh and Central Valley Christian this week, with a Saturday opening game at the Immanuel Invitational Tournament.
Mountain Area represented on Fresno City baseball team
One former Yosemite High baseball player and two from Minarets are on the current 40-member baseball roster at Fresno City College (10-2, 5-0 Central Valley conference).
Yosemite graduate Harley Glines is a 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore catcher, and from Minarets is 6-foot, 175-pound freshman infielder Conly Biglione, and 5-foot-11, 185-pound freshman catcher Keenan Reardon. The team is made-up of 23 freshman and 17 sophomores.
Biglione has played in nine games and is batting .308, with three RBIs. He was named Player of the Game in the Rams’ 8-2 win over Los Medanos Feb. 5, for his two hits and two stolen bases.
The Rams play at home at 1 p.m. this Saturday against the College of the Sequoias, and at 3 p.m. at home against Porterville on March 12.
Glines’ brother, Harley, is playing at West Hills College in Coalinga, and brother Jackson, is a senior this year playing at the University of Michigan.
Flag football sign-ups Sunday
The Yosemite Badgers Football Boosters will hold registration for its youth flag football league starting Sunday, March 8. Registration will also be held March 15, 22, April 12, 19, and 26. Players are asked to bring their cleats to registration - games will also be played on those dates.
Registration for first through eighth grade boys and girls will be held on the practice field adjacent to the pool at Yosemite High School. Cost is $20 per player and includes a tee-shirt. Registration times are as follows:
• Grades 1 & 2: 1 p.m.
• Grades 3 & 4: 1 p.m.
• Grades 5 & 6: 2 p.m.
• Grades 7 & 8: 2 p.m.
• High school & adults: 3 p.m.
Details: Erik Peterson, (559) 760-3331.
Fipps’ season coming to an end
UC Santa Barbara had a late 11-3 run with just over five minutes to play, helping lift the Gauchos to a 57-52 victory over UC Davis on Feb. 28. Davis senior Sydnee Fipps (Yosemite High 2011 graduate) finished with a team-high 13 points to go with five rebounds and three assists for the Aggies, who fell to 13-13 overall and 8-6 in Big West Conference play, losing their third straight following five straight wins.
Following a three-pointer by the Gauchos’ Kristine Brance, a reverse lay-up by Fipps kept the Aggies within a point, but a 10-3 burst by UCSB rebuilt the Gauchos’ lead back to eight at 40-32 with just over nine minutes to play.
The battle for seeding in the Big West Tournament continues with the final week of the regular season, as the Aggies return to Southern California for meetings with UC Riverside (March 5) and UC Irvine (March 7).
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