![\"Javier](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CRBASEBALL-04.jpg\")
Javier Mesa follows through with his swing. (Quick Flics by Jackson \u2014 Contributed)<\/p>\nRedwoods baseball, after seeing a couple of wins in the past couple of weeks, nearly got their third Golden Valley Conference victory against Lassen in the middle of a three-game road series, but fell in all three, 9-1 and 3-2 on Friday, and 17-5 on Saturday. The squad is now 4-26 (2-15 conference)<\/p>\n
Carson Fleming went 2-for-3 for Redwoods in the first game. In the second, Tristen Valenzuela pitched a strong eight innings for CR with just two earned runs, but the Cougars plated a run in each of the last two innings and walked it off on an error. Hunter Stockinger went 2-for-4 and Fleming 1-for-2 with two runs batted in.<\/p>\n
Javier Mesa follows through with his swing. (Quick Flics by Jackson \u2014 Contributed)<\/p>\n
In the finale, Javier Mesa went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Fleming went 1-for-3, and David McDonald went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.<\/p>\n
\u201c(It was an) overall disappointing weekend,\u201d said CR head coach John Downey. \u201cWe would have loved to have taken game two, but unfortunately, we gave it away there at the end. It\u2019s heartbreaking to see these guys not find that successful feeling after such a great game. Games one and three weren\u2019t nearly as fun, but there\u2019s highlights to take away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur biggest goal is now to grow as much as we can the rest of the way,\u201d he continued. \u201cTake games from teams that are looking to make playoff runs and see what our guys can do. I have to give the biggest compliment to our guys in how engaged and locked-in they are throughout each and every inning. We talk about winning 18 half-innings, and they are loud and engaged in each one. They could have easily rolled over a while ago, but they have a fire every day that is undeniable. They want to win, they want to see each other succeed, and they want to make the most out of the rest of this season. I\u2019m proud to be their coach, regardless of the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reflected on where things went awry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure there\u2019s a reason why we came out flat in game one,\u201d he said. \u201cIt could\u2019ve been travel or whatever, but we did come out flat. \u2026 In the bottom of the first there, we gave up a six-spot on a couple errors and a bad read. We lost that half-inning and couldn\u2019t really generate much offense.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Drew Franklin settled in on the mound after that, putting up zeros, but Redwoods was ultimately unable to claw back. Ryan Naillon had the RBI, and Downey said the team is happy with his progress. \u201cWe just couldn\u2019t really do much for Drew after he settled in there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CRBASEBALL-05.jpg\")
Ryan Naillon is ready at the plate for Redwoods. (Quick Flics by Jackson \u2014 Contributed)<\/p>\n
In the second contest Friday, Valenzuela was dealing and \u201cthrew amazing,\u201d according to Downey, with just the two earned tallies.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe went out and gave us an electric effort,\u201d said the coach. \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate that one of the biggest things that\u2019s plagued us this year has been our defensive miscues, and it did show up for us there in the end with them walking off on our error. We really wish we could\u2019ve gotten him the win and walked away with one. There\u2019s a lot to grow from that.\u201d Stockinger got credit from his coach for his performance at the plate.<\/p>\n
Of game three, Downey stated, \u201cJavier (Mesa) has been a guy that\u2019s battled injury this year, but we\u2019re very lucky to have him in the lineup, always relying on him to be in the middle and doing a decent job. David (McDonald) has really found his stride in the last month, and he\u2019s been a guy that\u2019s had some struggles at the plate and in the field, but has really grown tremendously. We\u2019re really proud of what he\u2019s done, not only in his performance but the way he carries himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Javier](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CRBASEBALL-03_3d7696.jpg\")
Javier Mesa is ready to field his position at first base. (Quick Flics by Jackson \u2014 Contributed)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easy for these guys in these circumstances right now to roll over, and maybe show attitude or have a bad time because of the record or losing, but they don\u2019t, and David is a guy who really leads by example as a true freshman. We\u2019re really happy to see him do that and for what the future brings for him\u2026 we could just put a bow on the year with not much time left, but they\u2019re not. They show up to work; yesterday was an off-day, and guys were coming up to (get) their work in. They show up every game day with relentless excitement for the game and each other, and to see us succeed, it\u2019s really fun to watch and be a part of, regardless. We hate losing more than we love winning, but we\u2019re really happy to see these guys continue to grow. That\u2019s the biggest W for us right now, seeing these guys blossom into young men who love each other and love the game. We\u2019re excited for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
The squad travels to Feather River for two games on Friday, and in advance of that, Downey said the message is that \u201cwe\u2019re looking forward to the competition, lining up against a good opponent. Everyone in our conference is good, and Feather River has done a fantastic job, only losing one conference game. They\u2019re legit, and right now our focus is taking every game possible and maybe putting a damper on another team\u2019s season. Now we\u2019ve got to be kinda the bad guy and take one from them this weekend. We\u2019re excited about the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ken McCanless can be reached at 707-441-0526.<\/p>\n
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