Two-sport athlete Grant Gray of Norco stars in 8-7 baseball win over Corona

Norco baseball coach Gary Parcell is aware of one thing about two-sport athletes. In spite of everything, he coached probably the greatest in Toby Gerhart, a soccer/baseball standout throughout his highschool days for the Cougars. Now he has one other in junior Grant Grey, who catches passes as a standout receiver and hits and fields as a standout heart fielder.

On Monday within the first sport of an vital three-game Massive VIII League collection in opposition to Corona, Grey went 4 for 4, together with three hits with two strikes, to assist Norco defeat the Panthers 8-7 at Corona.

“As Grant goes, we go,” Parcell stated.

As Norco’s leadoff hitter, with glorious velocity, Grey will get the Cougars’ (17-3, 5-2) offense going. He has seven schools eager to let him play soccer and baseball. Cameron Kim, a junior shortstop dedicated to UCLA, is attempting to get him to hitch him with the Bruins. Grey is scheduled to go watch a spring soccer observe, then a baseball sport in Westwood later this month.

“I’ve been struggling lately, however I knew I needed to be at my greatest,” Grey stated.

Kim is a narrative himself. He had 33 hits all final season as a sophomore. He had a single and RBI double on Monday, giving him 35 this season and a batting common above .500. He’s now not simply pulling balls. That’s the key to his enchancment. He’s hitting to all fields.

Each groups struggled defensively at instances, however Norco got here up with some clutch at-bats on 3-and-2 counts to make Corona ace Ethan Schiefelbein throw too many pitches. He was gone after 4 innings. He struck out eight and in addition hit a two-run residence run.

Norco held an 8-5 lead going to the underside of the seventh. Kai Hopfel hit a two-run residence run, however Anthony Conner closed out the sport and obtained the save.

Sophomore Sam Burgess went 4 for 4 to guide Corona (11-5, 4-3).