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The one that got away

By Nathan Ahle, The Daily Independent

Coyotes win first game of twinbill, but stumble in nightcap.

The Cerro Coso Coyotes split a Saturday doubleheader with the Victor Valley College Rams in Victorville, but they could be celebrating a sweep.

Cerro Coso (15-9, 9-6 Foothill) won the first game of the doubleheader 9-7, and led the Rams in the nightcap 6-0, but were unable to hold on to the lead, as Victor Valley rallied for an 8-7 win.

In the opener, Cerro Coso's Ryan Penn pitched six innings to earn his sixth win of the campaign, and helped his own cause by going 2-for-4 with four RBI's and a three-run home run in the third inning that broke the game open.

"Penn pitched effectively." said Coyotes Head Coach Dick Adams. "He threw well enough to win."

With another game to play Saturday, Adams brought in Ben Douglas to close out the Rams in the seventh inning, but the freshman was unable to seal the deal, walking three hitters and recording only one out. Adams went to the bullpen again, calling for Darren Green. The sophomore from Boron gave up a base hit to allow VVC to close the gap to 9-7, but retired two hitters to notch his second save of the year.

In the second game, California City native Caleb Gallagher took the hill for the Coyotes, his first start in two weeks. Gallagher responded by carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and took a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning. Adams relieved Gallagher due to fatigue, but the bullpen was unable to hold the lead.

Green, who was effective in his first outing of the day, struggled here, giving up four hits and two runs in less than an inning. Junior Dawkins entered the game, and was what Adams called "dominant," striking out three in an inning and a third. However, Dawkins was forced to leave the game after dislocating the middle finger on his pitching hand.

Ryan Hayden, who began the season as a starter for the Coyotes, came into the game and promptly allowed four hits, as Victor Valley surged back with two runs in the sixth, three in the seventh, two in the eighth, and one run in the ninth to win.

"We just couldn't close the game out," said Adams. "That's frustrating; we can't afford to lose. We need to win every game."

Cerro Coso will have a unique opportunity to play in a professional baseball stadium Thursday; the team will face Antelope Valley College at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, home of the Class-A Jethawks.

March 30, 2004

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