Halcovich Leads College of the Canyons to Win in State Tournament Opener, 10-6

Frank Halcovich hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the ninth inning, and drove in seven runs Thursday to lead College of the Canyons to a 10-6 victory over Mission College of Santa Clara in a first-round game of the community college state baseball tournament.

The score was tied, 6-6, going into the bottom of the ninth when Canyons (29-13) loaded the bases with none out. Left fielder Halcovich hit a line drive off the scoreboard beyond the fence at Fresno State’s Beiden Field, and the Cougars advanced to the second round.

Halcovich also had a double, an RBI single and a two-run homer in a 4-for-5 performance. The freshman from Granada Hills High School, who was a co-Player of the Year in the Mountain Valley Conference, has nine home runs and 46 RBIs on the season.

Mission, which had won 19 straight, finished at 32-10.

In another first-round game Thursday, Laney (30-9) defeated San Bernardino Valley (30-12), 8-3.