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Coyotes pile up offense in Thursday win

By Nathan Ahle, The Daily Independent

Tony Teixeira
4-for-5, 4 RBI's
Adams: "5 good AB's
clutch hitting"

In recent weeks, the Cerro Coso Coyotes baseball team has been scoring runs, but usually isn't able to do so consistently. The team will score multiple runs in one or two innings of a given game, but will be held off the board in several other innings.

This wasn't the case Thursday afternoon at the Dawg Yard, as the Coyotes scored in seven of their eight trips to the plate to outlast the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles 13-10.

Head Coach Dick Adams said that the team "just kept chipping away" at the Eagles, giving Caleb Gallagher his second win in Foothill Conference play.

The Coyotes (17-10, 12-7 Foothill) jumped out with five runs in the first inning, as the team batted around the order against Eagle starter Dustin Pecoro. In the top of the second, Gallagher gave up a run after Martin Luna hit a deep triple and later scored for Mt. San Jacinto.

The slugfest was on.

The two teams lit up the left-field scoreboard, as each squad scored in their next three trips to the plate. The Coyotes added single runs in the second, third, fourth, and fifth, while Mt. San Jacinto added four runs in the third on a Luna home run and picked up two more runs in the fifth to even the game, 8-8.

Gallagher left the mound after the fifth, but earned the win thanks to the Coso run in the bottom half of the inning.

"Caleb competed," said Adams of the freshman from California City.

Gallagher has developed into the team's third starter, behind Ryan Penn and Matt Smith.

Junior Dawkins relieved Gallagher in the sixth and held the fort, keeping the Eagles off the board. The Coyotes grabbed a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to take an 11-8 lead, but the comfort level was short-lived.

Mt. San Jacinto (6-17-1, 5-10-1 Foothill) scored two more runs in the top of the seventh off of Dawkins, on another home run by Luna.

"He had a career day," said Adams of the Mt. San Jacinto slugger.

The coach went to the bullpen and called for left-hander Darren Green. The sophomore from Boron shut down the Eagles to preserve the win, notching his third save of the season.

"Darren Green pitched an excellent game," Adams said.

Green pitched perfect baseball, striking out two while failing to allow a hit or a run.

Offensively, eight of the nine Coso starters collected at least one hit. Catcher Tony Teixeira had his best game at the plate as a Coyote, going 4-for-5 with four runs batted in. According to Adams, Teixeira's only out was made on a sharply hit lineout to the outfield.

"Tony had five good at-bats," said Adams. "That's what you call clutch hitting."

Shortstop Norm Love was also effective, going 2-for-5 with three RBI's, and centerfielder Nick Wagner had a 3-for-5 day at the plate, despite re-injuring a hamstring.

The two teams will renew pleasantries Saturday afternoon at Mt. San Jacinto, with Penn starting the opener. The starting pitcher for Cerro Coso in the nightcap has yet to be determined. The Coyotes' bye week is next week, and the team will return to action April 22 against College of the Desert.

April 9, 2004