May 5, 2026
COS Sports Notes: Week of May 4, 2026
Softball keeps its postseason run alive, while swimming, track, baseball, and equestrian wrap up impressive seasons highlighted by standout performances and all-conference honors.
SOFTBALL
College of the Sequoias' softball team rallied to win two games last Saturday and extended their season in the Northern California playoffs.
COS, the No. 6 seeded team, lost the first game to the No. 11 American River 4-2, but rallied to win twice on Saturday, 10-8 and 8-0 in the deciding game.
Coach Cori Janelli's Giants, 31-9-1 on the year, travel to Stockton this week to face the No. 3 seeded San Joaquin Delta Mustangs in the super regionals.
The best-of-three series has a single game Friday, and either one or two on Saturday.
Winner will advance to the state championships May 14-17 in Bakersfield.
Delta (30-10) defeated Taft in two games last weekend.
The 31 wins is the most by a COS team since 2010, when the Giants went 36-9.
Several Giants were accorded conference post-season honors. Amanda Herrera (pitcher), Audrina Rodriguez (pitcher), Alivea Salcedo (infield), Madisyn Benedict (outfield) and Shelby Somavia (designated player) were first team all-conference, while infielder Emilee Santos was second team.
SWIMMING
Sequoias had two standouts on both the men's and women's swimming teams at last week's state championship meet at Orange Coast College.
Diver Reannon Herrera was the women's top placer, with a third place in the 1-meter dive and a fifth place in the 3-meter.
Ellie Lambert placed seventh in both the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
For the men's team, diver Scott Dutcher was fourth in the 3-meter and sixth in the 1-meter.
Tanner Lopez placed sixth in the 100 freestyle and seventh in the 50 free.
The Giant men's team placed 13th in the meet with 115 points, while the women's team placed 17th with 66 points.
TRACK
Vivian Moore was the star of the meet at last weekend's Northern California championship meet.
Moore took first place in both the long jump and triple jump to lead the COS women's team. Ashlyn Reed was second in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump.
COS placed fourth in the 4 x 100 relay, and Abigal Cuthsall took sixth in the high jump.
The Giant women tied for sixth in the team standings with San Mateo. The Sequoias men tied for fourth with conference rival Clovis.
Julian Valdivia led the men's team by winning the 1500 meters, and was third in the 5000. Tevin Howerton was fourth in the 100 and sixth in the 200.
Other top places for COS were Angel Sanchez, third in the 110 hurdles; Reece Poscablo, fourth in the 110 hurdles; Jo'siah Moon, sixth in the 400 meters; and Ruben Rubio Carbajal, sixth in the shot put.
The state meet will be May 15-16 at Mt. San Antonio College.
BASEBALL
The Giant baseball team reached the NorCal regionals for the first time in three seasons, but their season ended quickly, as they lost two straight games Friday to be eliminated.
Sequoias fell to Santa Rosa 9-2 in its first game, the fourth time the BearCubs beat COS this year. The Giants fell 4-0 to host Marin in their second game.
COS finished the year 20-22, but it was the most wins by a Giant club in the last three seasons.
Several Giants garnered all-conference honors. Hudson Groh (pitcher), Walker Selley (first base), Aiden Medina (shortstop) and Chance Jasso (relief pitcher) were named first team all-conference.
Jerod Smith (pitcher), Joshua Barajas (designated hitter) and Kadyn Kirkley (infield) were named to the second team.
Medina and Selley were named to the Golden Glove team.
Jasso was tied for the state lead in saves this season with eight
EQUESTRIAN
COS had an outstanding performance at the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) National Championships held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
Maddy Nevels captured the national championship in high point reining. Nevels also placed 4th overall in the high point rider standings and 11th in individual horsemanship.
