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What are the best Grizzly sports games of the last few years?



The recent Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 championship football game might be the greatest Grizzly sports game of the last four years, which is the period of time the author of the story has been in Mariposa. Several other games could give it a run for its money. Photos by Matt Johnson

The recent Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 championship football game might be the greatest Grizzly sports game of the last four years, which is the period of time the author of the story has been in Mariposa. Several other games could give it a run for its money. Photos by Matt Johnson

Now several weeks into California’s “stay at home” order, local sports fans are probably pulling their hair out, wishing things would get back to normal so sporting contests could resume.

Obviously, however, the health and safety of the public is more important than sporting events.

Not to worry, sports fans. This article is a look back at some of the greatest Mariposa County High School sports games over the last four years.

Hopefully, this quenches your thirst for sports during these difficult times.

This list is in no particular order. It is a sampling of games, simply meant to jog the memories of sports fans, and hopefully give them something to smile about.

(These are also games I have been a personal witness to. There are some road games I was not present for, so if a certain contest isn’t on the list which you feel should be on there, that’s probably the reason it isn’t listed. Surely, there are bound to be games that were omitted.)

MCHS’s Taylor Vegely, a 2019 graduate, is shown during the section title girls hoops game against Argonaut. MCHS didn’t come home with a win, but it was a competitive game and a great experience for the Mariposa players.

MCHS’s Taylor Vegely, a 2019 graduate, is shown during the section title girls hoops game against Argonaut. MCHS didn’t come home with a win, but it was a competitive game and a great experience for the Mariposa players.

Comeback kids: It’s a shame spring sports have been shut down for the time being, because fans haven’t had the chance to see how good this year’s MCHS varsity softball team could be. The team had an amazing comeback on March 5 against Livingston. For six innings, it was a game that had Mariposa fans wanting to go crazy. The teams went back and forth over six innings, but Mariposa couldn’t quite take the lead. Batters were driving the ball, but several tough catches by Livingston outfielders robbed the Grizzlies of any sort of momentum. That all changed in the bottom of the seventh. Nicole Long led off with a walk. She was followed by Megan Harris, who brought Long around to score by hitting a double. With the score tied at 4, senior Brylei Pearson came to the plate. Her walkoff single brought Harris around to score and give Mariposa a thrilling 5-4 victory.

Cody Truchsess surpasses 40-point mark, 2020: If it’s a Mariposa-Le Grand game, you know it’s going to be a dandy. And as legendary college football announcer Keith Jackson would say, “Woah, Nelly,” this was certainly a classic. Mariposa senior hoops star Cody Truchsess scored 43 points on 19-of-26 shooting, with 24 coming in the first half. It seemed as though he was a man possessed, as he put his head down time after time and got to the hoop for layups. Le Grand simply could not contain him and had no answers for his ability to slice to the hoop. It was a performance that Truchsess is sure to savor for many years. And it wasn’t like the 43 points came in a blowout and Truchsess was padding his stats. Mariposa was losing 17-5 after the first quarter. The Grizzlies needed every one of Truchsess’ points. The Grizzlies won 80-71.

Grizzly senior Brylei Pearson was instrumental in a nailbiting win over Livingston earlier this spring. Photo by Matt Johnson

Grizzly senior Brylei Pearson was instrumental in a nailbiting win over Livingston earlier this spring. Photo by Matt Johnson

Wrestlers honor teammate, 2019: In December, the MCHS wrestling team hosted a match against Ripon High. In any other school year, this early season match probably wouldn’t have meant much. But the Grizzlies showed support for their teammate, Jade Seymour, who was in the hospital at that time after a scary horse riding incident in which she was badly injured. Several of the MCHS wrestlers wrote inspirational messages on their legs, some even referencing Bible verses. After the match, the team unfurled a homemade banner which read “We Love You Jade.” Seymour — the daughter of MCHS wrestling coach Scott Seymour — has since recovered and is doing well.

MCHS graduate Jake Williams helped his team to the 2016 section title, in a thrilling contest against RC. Photo submitted by Beth Williams

MCHS graduate Jake Williams helped his team to the 2016 section title, in a thrilling contest against RC. Photo submitted by Beth Williams

Section title football game, 2019 vs. Denair: This might be my favorite out of all the games listed. There are so many reasons this game was sensational. For starters, it was two Southern League teams battling for a section title. It was two evenly matched teams. I mean, you really couldn’t get much closer than the two battles these two teams had during the season. Denair had slipped past Mariposa 14-13 in the regular season after a controversial game in which a Mariposa trick play — which resulted in a touchdown — was called back by the referees due to an illegal lateral. Many of the Mariposa fans and players disagreed with the call made by the officials. Head coach Robert Stitt said after the loss to Denair that he felt his team could beat the Coyotes if the two teams met again. He would get his wish just a few weeks later. Coming into the section title game, Mariposa was obviously hungry for revenge. The Grizzlies and their faithful fans traveled to Turlock, where the game was played at a “neutral” site (Denair is located just mere minutes from Turlock). The Grizzlies were trailing 14-0, but rallied in the second half. It looked like the Grizzlies would be able to pull out a win in regulation, but were stuffed at the goal line. A field goal missed by Nate Kunz at the end of regulation was eerily similar to how the regular season game ended. But Kunz got a second shot in overtime, and nailed the kick, giving Mariposa a narrow 17-14 win and a blue title banner. Tailback Logan Donati was another hero, rushing 21 times for 185 yards and a touchdown.

MCHS gridders handle Le Grand, 2019: Mariposa needed a win to guarantee itself a spot in the postseason. Playing on the road in the “Green and Gold Bowl,” the Grizzlies held off a hostile Le Grand team, 20-7. The game had its share of skirmishes between the two heated rivals. MCHS scored twice in the fourth quarter, and then the Grizzly defense went into lockdown mode the rest of the contest to earn a big win.

MCHS surprises Orestimba, 2019: It seems like games from the 2019 football season are taking over this list. It was truly a special season. The Grizzlies knew they might be on their way to a special year when they shocked league powerhouse Orestimba, 7-6 in September. Kannon Gibson had three (you read that correctly) interceptions in the contest. The win sent a message to the rest of the league that Mariposa would be a contender.

Section title baseball game, 2019 vs. Waterford: This is probably the most frustrating game on this list, but it was still a great game, and it also showed the perseverance which the baseball boys had. The Grizzlies came into the section title round only needing one win, while Waterford needed to win twice in one day because it was a double elimination tournament. Mariposa seemed to take that luxury for granted, and performed sleepily in the opening game. The Grizzlies trailed 10-5 before storming back, mainly behind the inspired play of Will Harris, who had a clutch double. Eventually, the magic (and the energy) ran out for the Grizzlies, and Waterford stole game one, 10-9. Because Mariposa seemed to have woken up at the end of the first game, many fans believed they would ride that momentum into the second game and earn the championship. But the Grizzlies couldn’t summon the same intensity, and fell to Waterford 4-2 in the second game, giving Waterford the title. It’s certainly a frustration that will eat at MCHS fans and players for a long time, because this was one of the most talented teams Mariposa has had on the diamond in a while. It felt like a “team of destiny” which was supposed to win a championship. But at the same time, despite the disappointment, the comeback against Waterford showed how talented MCHS was, to flip the switch in that game and nearly earn the championship.

• Section title girls basketball game, 2019 vs. Argonaut: Although this was a game Mariposa lost, it showed the heart which the girls hoops team possessed. Led by star player Milea Appling, the Grizzlies marched to the section title game. It was an awesome sight prior to the game, as Grizzly fans came out in force to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. But the team ran into a pesky, feisty Argonaut squad which full-court pressed the Grizzlies all game long. The press proved to be the Achilles heel for Mariposa, but the girls never gave up. They cut a double-digit deficit to 59-52 late in the second half, but couldn’t quite overcome the mountain they had to climb against a tough Argonaut squad. Three players stood out for the Grizzlies: Appling with 20 points and 21 rebounds; Alex Williams, who had a triple double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 12 blocks; and Lily Heavner, who had 12 rebounds and timely shots in the second half. But turnovers doomed the Grizzlies, who fell 71-58.

Girls basketball playoff game vs. Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, 2019: This was the game which sent MCHS to the section title game in 2019. Before a packed house, the Lady Griz ran Sierra off the court, winning 69-41. The game wasn’t all that exciting, really, but the atmosphere and the fan support was incredible.

Devon Acker-James goes haywire, 2019: You could write a book about all of the special performances Acker-James had. The 2019 graduate is one of the most talented scorers in school history, and one of the most entertaining players to ever step on the court for Mariposa. In one game, he dropped 45 points on Waterford, even after he sat out the fourth quarter and with a constant running clock for the second half. Splash!

Yager comes up huge, 2019: MCHS’s Ruby Yager buried a shot between two Ripon Christian defenders to give the girls soccer team a 1-0 win in January of 2019. The goal came with only a minute remaining in the match. Just a few weeks prior, MCHS earned what coach Adam Finney called one of its biggest wins in the recent past with a 2-1 win over Orestimba. The 2018-19 season ended up being a special one for the Grizzlies, as they caught fire and went on an absolute tear.

MCHS boys soccer team “arrives,” 2019: Grizzly boys soccer coach Miguel Ramirez built the program back up after several tough seasons. The Grizzlies showed they were not to be trifled with by tying league powerhouse Le Grand 2-2 in a regular season game in January of 2019. MCHS even got off to a 2-0 lead. Le Grand is no joke. The Bulldogs have been one of the better teams in the section and even the state in recent years. By earning a strong result against a team like that, it showed that MCHS could compete.

Playoffs! Playoffs!, 2018: Lily Heavner’s basket in the waning moments gave the MCHS girls basketball team a nerve-racking 54-52 win over Summerville in the postseason. The girls went on the road and played in a tough environment, but rallied from a 52-48 deficit to earn one of the classic victories the program has had in the last few years. The night was also remembered for a terrible snowstorm that caused all kinds of trouble for Mariposa fans who tried to drive back home.

A glitch in time, 2018: The MCHS boys varsity hardwood team won a thrilling 71-70 game over the visiting Livingston Wolves in a contest that was absolutely crazy. It was crazy not only for its intense action on the court, but also because it was played without an operating and functional scoreboard due to a malfunction. Players had no idea how much time was left during the game. Scorekeepers at the scorer’s table had to keep time and provide it to the players through a microphone at various points throughout the contest. An old, hand-flip scoreboard was also set up at the scorer’s table to notify players and fans of the score. Livingston missed a desperation shot at the buzzer after Devon Acker-James sank a free throw to give MCHS the decisive edge.

Atkins steps up, 2018: Blake Atkins — perhaps better known for his baseball accomplishments — lofted a shot up and in over the defense of Bret Harte, for a 62-61 win over visiting Bret Harte. Although it was a non-league game with not much meaning, it preserved a longstanding home win streak for the MCHS varsity boys basketball program. “It was exhilarating,” Atkins remarked. Atkins scored 23 points.

Pressure packed performance, 2018: A pair of free-throws lifted the MCHS boys hoops team over league foe Gustine, 64-63. Devon Acker-James stepped to the line and made both shots to earn the win.

Girls soccer team finally gets over hump, 2018: Goals from Susie Gomes and Quinn Whatley led the MCHS girls soccer team to its first win over Ripon Christian in four years.

Intense league wrestling finals, 2017: Not a game, per se, but the 2017 Southern League wrestling tournament — which was held in Mariposa — was one to remember. The Griz dominated, sending 11 to divisionals. There were also some classic moments, including 184-pounder Ryan Leonard finally taking down his season long rival, Josh Gentry.

Seniors go out on high note, 2017: Despite missing the playoffs, the MCHS volleyball team went out with a bang by crushing Delhi 25-11, 25-6, 25-17 on senior night. The Grizzlies played much looser than they had all season, with little on the line other than wanting to go out with a victory.

Section title baseball game, 2016 vs. Ripon Christian: Another classic game. The Grizzlies met their league rival, the Ripon Christian Knights, on Memorial Day in Lodi with the section title on the line. Going into the section championship game, MCHS and Ripon Christian had played each other twice that season, with both games decided by one run — a 9-8 win for MCHS and a 5-4 win for Ripon Christian. Mariposa had control for most of the game, going up 11-2. Ripon Christian came up to bat in the bottom of the seventh and peeled off five runs, making the score 11-7. They were threatening to add more runs, until MCHS pitcher Morgan Hughes came into the game to earn the save on the pitcher’s mound and shut down the furious rally — all while playing with a strained medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his left knee. Hughes also had four RBI in the game. MCHS won 11-7.

The dynasty lives on, 2016: The softball team at MCHS won its last section title with a dominant 9-1 win over Millennium High. Mariposa scored seven runs in the fourth inning to seize control. The Grizzlies finished the year 24-2-1 and cemented their status as one of the best dynasties in school history.

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