GRIZZLY COLIN RITTER GETS A CONGRATULATORY SWAT FROM HEAD COACH BRUCE VEGELY AS HE ROUNDS THIRD BASE AFTER A 3-RUN HOMER AGAINST WATERFORD LAST FRIDAY. THE GRIZZLIES POSTED A LOPSIDED 10-1 SAL VICTORY. GAZETTE PHOTO BY DAN TUCKER Last Friday Mariposa’s Grizzlies slimmed the race for the Southern Athletic League pennant with a 10- 1 shellacking of Waterford’s Wildcats after falling to Le Grand earlier in the week, 5-4.

The contest against Waterford began with three teams knotted for the SAL lead with two losses apiece: Mariposa, Waterford, and Turlock Christian.

Mariposa’s convincing victory narrowed the field to a two-horse race, and Tuesday’s rain-out of the Grizzlies’ home match against TC delayed what may turn out to be a decisive game.

The Grizzlies’ long ball game took its toll on the ‘Cats. Mariposa bounced out in front with a solo run in the first inning when Colin Ritter lined a double to the fence over the leftfielder’s head. Jarrett Miller followed with a double to centerfield that scored Ritter for a 1-0 lead.

Mariposa began a two-out rally in the bottom of the second ending. Jacob Johnson ripped a double to start the scoring binge. Tommy Stickles followed with a sharp single that pushed Johnson over the plate.

Kevin Foraker reached safely on an error to put runners at first and third. Ritter hammered a 2-0 count fastball over the leftfield fence for a 3-run homer and a 5-0 Mariposa lead.

Waterford would score a single run in the fifth inning on a fielder’s choice, but Mariposa awoke in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.

Winning pitcher Jarrett Leonard drew a free pass and scored on a double by Ian Merzwinski. With two outs, the Grizzlies mounted another assault.

Foraker worked the Waterford hurler for a walk, and Ritter followed with a base on balls. Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases in front of clean-up hitter Austin Garibay.

AUSTIN GARIBAY HAMMERED A GRAND SLAM AGAINST WATERFORD LAST FRIDAY IN THE GRIZZLIES’ 10-1 WIN. GAZETTE PHOTO BY DAN TUCKER Garibay crushed his first pitch over the outfield fence, clearing the bases with a grand slam home run to push Mariposa’s margin to 10-1.

For the game, Ritter was 2-for-2 with 3 RBI, and he scored 3 runs. Garibay went 2-for-4 with 4 RBI as the designated hitter.

In the Le Grand contest, the Bulldogs jumped to an early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of hte first inning. They put two more on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer before the Grizzlies could break the scoring ice.