College of the Sequoias' Benjamin Pedersen tosses perfect game

CCCAA Baseball: Scoreboard l Standings

VISALIA - The hardest hit ball against Pedersen was a second-inning line drive off the bat of Taft's Tyren Dorrance that likely would have gone for extra bases had Perez Jr. not come up with a diving stop. And in the sixth inning, Allen made a nice back-handed stop on a grounder by Brady Wilson.

On Pedersen's final pitch, pinch-hitter Keesan Vialpando hit shoulder-high one-hopper to Munoz, who bobbled and dropped the ball before recovering in time to get the out at first, setting off a team celebration. Pedersen is now 4-0 on the season with a 1.24 earned-run average and 40 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings.

"One thing about Ben that's exceptional for his age is he's really competitive, but he has a calmness and a determination," Jody Allen said. "He handled the pressure of the situation and the anxiety of the moment really well."  

COS gave Pedersen the only runs he would need in the top of the fifth inning as Munoz singled in McKernan and Gonzalez singled in Souza for a 2-0 lead.

The Giants added to their lead in the seventh on Payton Allen's two-run triple, scoring Gonzalez and Munoz. Allen would score on grounder to the pitcher by Casey Miller (Tulare Western) for a 5-0 advantage.

Munoz' two-run single in the eighth, scoring McKernan and Souza, gave COS a 7-0 lead, and Beavers capped the scoring in the ninth with an RBI single that brought home Jordan Hammer (Fowler).

The Giants have won four straight -- including their second straight CVC series -- heading into a showdown with conference co-leading Reedley (13-4 overall).

"I feel like ultimately our goal each week is to win the series, and if you get a chance to sweep, it's good to do that. And we were able to get that done this weekend," said Jody Allen, who's team is tied with Ohlone for the most wins in the state. "We have a lot of people contributing right now. Our pitching has been exceptional and we're playing good defense. There has been a new hero every game."   

COS is scheduled to play at Reedley at 2 p.m. March 3, at home against the Tigers at 2 p.m. March 5 and back in Reedley at 1 p.m. March 7.

(Nick Giannandrea, COS Athletics)