MARIPOSA’S JESUS ORTIZ (NO. 10) BATTLES FOR THE BALL AGAINST WATERFORD MONDAY AFTERNOON. MARIPOSA PREVAILED IN THE SOUTHERN ATHLETIC LEAGUE MATCH, 2-1. GAZETTE PHOTO BY DAN TUCKER When Delhi torched Denair Monday afternoon, 5-1, in Southern Athletic League play, it opened the door for Mariposa’s defending Sac- Joaquin Section champs to make it back to the playoffs.

With a narrow 2-1 win over Waterford at home on Monday afternoon, the Grizzlies traveled to Turlock Christian Wednesday for a decisive Southern Athletic League match.

Win and they’re in. It’s was that simple. (Look for game results Thursday at www.mariposagazette. com).

Le Grand, Mariposa’s final league opponent next Monday afternoon, has all but clinched a first place finish, and Delhi has wrapped up second. Three teams will make the playoffs.

A loss to Denair last Wednesday kept the Grizzlies from clinching on Monday afternoon against Waterford. The Wildcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the half, but Grizzly senior Jonathan Gonzalez couldn’t be contained by Waterford’s defense in the second period.

MARIPOSA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER PLAYERS CHRIS SHERRELL AND NICK LAMBERT TRY TO LURE DINERS TO THE ANNUAL FIESTA DINNER TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE BOYS’ SOCCER PROGRAM. IT MUST HAVE WORKED, BECAUSE THE BEST WESTERN CONFERENCE ROOM WAS FULL OF HAPPY CUSTOMERS. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER About 20 minutes into the second stanza, Gonzalez scooped up a rebound off of the goalkeeper and swept it into the net to knot the contest at 1-1.

Five minutes later he forced his way through four defenders and slapped a shot into the corner of the goal for a 2-1 Mariposa lead.

“We played with some urgency today to keep our playoff hopes alive,” head coach Adam Finney said after the game. Finney said a save by goalkeeper Ian Merzwinski in the first half may have made the difference in th game when the Mariposa goalie made a diving stop on a smoking free kick from 25 yards out.

Last week against Denair the Grizzlies were stagnant. “We didn’t move the ball, and Denair played very well,” Finney said. It was a scorelss deadlock at the intermission, but the Coyotes drew first blood in the second half to take the lead.

The Grizzlies tied it up when Jared Law took a diagonal path across the front of the goal and bent a shot around the goalkeeper to tie it, 1-1.

The Coyotes put it away on a free kick with about 10 minute left in the match for a 2-1 edge, and Mariposa couldn’t respond.