There were a total of ten errors in the game, with Giants causing six of them.  Five of them in the first five innings. The Giants kicked away many opportunities to get out of innings unscathed, but the poor defense by the Giants gave the pitching little help.

In a 3-run 6th inning for the Fresno City Rams, the Giants had a chance to get out of inning allowing no runs, but with a runner on first and nobody out, third basemen Ryan McClellan let a routine groundball go through his legs and from there the inning went downhill.

The Giants offense had no struggles though, slapping 13 hits. John Kruger was one of the standouts with 2 hits and 2 runs batted in. Kenny Corona would also get two hits and a stolen base.

The Giants looked like they’d have a shot to go into the bottom of the ninth tied, but Fresno City’s Bryce Barger, would hit a tie breaking single in the top of the ninth with two outs.  The next inning Giants’ pinch hitter Cody Skaggs would tie the game with a single in the eighth.

The Giants drop to a record of 6-3 on the season. They will play at Fresno City on Thursday, but will return on Saturday to play Fresno City at home.

The COS football team will be hosting their first annual crab feed. It is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 24 and will be held at the St. Mary’s Parish Center at 506 N. Garden St. Visalia. The program has planned this event to help with equipment and uniform costs.

Tickets will cost $40 per person or $300 for a table of eight.  Tickets are limited. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. The dinner will consist of crab, clam chowder, salad, bread roll and baked potato. Following dinner will be a dance from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. and a silent auction, as well as a no-host bar.

“Good food and good dancing. Hope it’s a fun event,” said Head Football Coach Robert Dougherty.

For ticket purchases and more information, call Coach Dougherty at 804-1900 or call the COS Foundation at 730-3861.

To begin the bottom of that 10th inning, Devin Lee, who had come in as defensive replacement, tripled to deep left center field that looked like a home run coming off the bat. A couple pitches later Seeger would drive in Lee on a sharply hit ball that bounced off the third basemen’s glove and rolled into foul territory, allowing Lee to score.

The Giants looked earlier in the game as if they’d win the game in a simpler fashion, behind starting pitcher Michael Isom who up until the eighth inning was pitching a shutout. Isom would load the bases to start the inning with nobody out, and after a run scoring groundout, Isom looked as if he’d be able to minimize the damage, but after leaving the game and bringing in Destin De La Cruz the next Consumnes River batter Garret Heisinger would drive in two runs with a double to tie the game.

Kevin Seeger would bail the bullpen though, by driving in the game winning run and sending the crowd home happy.

With this game improving the Giants’ record to 6-2, they will begin their league schedule on Tues. Feb. 21 at home vs. Fresno City College.

The Lady Giants had a hard time scratching out runs just like in the first game, except in this game the pitching let them down. The ace pitcher for COS, Alexis Cervantes, gave up all ten runs including 6 runs in the 5th inning. Franki Perez would face 2 batters in the sixth innning but Cervantes would come back into the game in the 7th.

Cervantes was the lone Lady Giant to drive runs though even if her pitching struggled, she drove in both runs with a line drive double to right center field in the 2nd inning.

For Ohlone College their main contributor to the win was Jaime Costa who hit a grand slam home run in the 6 run 5th inning that blew the game wide open and the Lady Giants were not able to mount any sort of resistance.

With this loss the Lady Giants of COS fall to a respectable record of 8-4 and Ohlone College improves to 3-3. The Stars and Stripes Tournament will continue tomorrow with COS again playing at 10 am and 2 pm with their opponents still To Be Announced.

The Lady Giants won, primarily behind the right arm of pitcher Lauren Crow, who pitched to all but the last batter of the game, when she had to leave due to injury. Franki Perez came in and retired the final batter of the game with little trouble. Crow only allowed one run in six innings to go along with 3 strikeouts.

The bats were cold all game for the Lady Giants, but did get a run scoring single from Taylor Wright on a hard hit ball to left field. There were only two other hits to be accounted for in the rest of the game, but they still managed to pull out the win.

The Lady Giants played again at 2 pm on the same day and will be on the road all next week. Their next home game will not be until Mar.1 when they play a doubleheader with Porterville College.

Center Emily Fechner makes a jump shot Wednesday night against Taft College. Photo by: Richard Samaniego

The Lady Giants Basketball Team lost its final home game 75-65 to the Taft Lady Cougars on Wednesday night. The loss dropped their overall record to 6 wins and 18 losses in the league.

Though the Lady Giants defense struggled throughout the game, the team’s leading scorer Emily Fechner stood out, putting up 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, almost fouling out of the game with four fouls.

Priscilla Zepeda was also star in the game, making 5 baskets, all of which were three point baskets. She also grabbed 5 rebounds.

The Lady Cougars primarily won this game due to a big rebounding disparity in their favor.

Maurissa Morones would grab 11 rebounds and also score 18 points in the process. The leading scorer in the game came from Taft’s Demmi Nunn, who would score 22 points, four of which were three point baskets. With this win, the Cougars would improve to 17-10, and 6-3 in the CVC division.

With this being the final home game for the Lady Giants, they will play their final game on the road, on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Porterville College.

Watch the game below:

The problem is people are busier than ever and don’t make time to grow their relationships. And relationships require daily attention, from the little things to the tragedies.

With that in mind, relationships come equipped with advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages include love, respect and security. The one person who will listen to you go on about the crazy lady who cut you off on the freeway. Whether you go out or stay home, you’re not alone. Someone who cares enough to ask how your day has gone. This person makes you feel like you are the key to their happiness, and is the willing recipient of your affection.  The security that if the world turned its back on you, there would be one person who still had your back.

Disadvantages include disappointment and betrayal. The above expectations are high for any one person. People can’t read minds and relationships get into trouble when one doesn’t get the expected reaction from their partner. Unmet expectations are caused by lack of communication. Vague statements such as, “I want you to care about me” do not communicate anything useful. Focus in on what you really want, and be more specific. Let them know when they did something nice instead of pointing out everything they did wrong. Remember, people are not mind readers. Maybe we will have the technology in the future, but for now, we still have to use our words.

I want to hear from you. What’s something your partner has done that showed you they cared? Does your partner meet your expectations?

“To be honest I don’t even know where the holiday comes from, and I bet most people don’t either,” said Kasey Avila, a student at COS.

There are many theories as to Valentines Days’ origin. Some historians say the day draws its roots from St. Valentine, a Roman priest who was persecuted for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to “love lotteries”, when boys drew names of girls to honor Juno, a goddess, and couples were formed for the year. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine”.

Valentine’s Day, the day of love, has come a very long way from its intentional meaning. Many see it as a day of “love” where couples must show complete admiration and adoration by giving their significant other something special like jewelry, heart cut outs, or candy.

Many marketers are all too thrilled and ready to get a head start on providing society with their Valentine’s Day love products.

Right after Christmas, stores already have that familiar red and pink packaged candy ready to be purchased. Valentine’s Day is more of a commercial holiday: it is not about love and relationships, it’s about selling flowers, candy, and diamond jewelry.

Marketers use “Valentine’s Day” as a way to get people to buy their products. Is Valentine’s Day really important in a relationship? Or is it all about materialistic things and marketing? Valentine’s Day is a day where, if you are in a relationship, it seems as if one had better not forget to give a present to their sweetheart or else they’re going to be in the doghouse.

“I think society has definitely made it important. I wouldn’t dare forget to get something for my girlfriend on Valentine’s Day because I know I’d hear about it until next year.” said Avila.

Corrections:

• The last day to drop classes without a “W” was Feburary 1; however, the last day to drop full term classes without a refund and with a “W” is March 23.