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Coyote sophomore Penn Foothill Player of the Year

By Nathan Ahle, The Daily Independent

Cerro Coso sophomore Ryan Penn (shown here connecting against Rio Hondo in the Foothill Conference Tournament in April) was named the Foothill Conference Player of the Year for 2004 in results announced this week. DAILY INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO BY NATHAN AHLE

While the Cerro Coso Coyotes baseball team spent the past week practicing and waiting to see if they would earn a spot in the state community college tournament, the Foothill Conference announced its postseason awards, and the Coyotes were well-represented.

Sophomore Ryan Penn, who saw time as a pitcher, infielder and outfielder this season, was recognized for his efforts by being named Conference Player of the Year.

In conference play, Penn did it all, helping the Coyotes to a third-place finish. The right-hander won eight conference games on the mound (10 overall), which helped him tie Jason Mackintosh's record of 21 wins as a Cerro Coso hurler. He also led the conference in innings pitched (80), complete games (seven) strikeouts (76), was second in walks per nine innings (1.01) and was third in appearances (11).

Penn also hit above .300 for the Coyotes this year, drove in 20 runs in conference play and walked 13 times, placing him on the leaderboard in all of these categories.

Penn's efforts for the Coyotes last season earned him a National Letter of Intent to Fresno State, where he will pitch for the Bulldogs next fall.

In addition, outfielder Antoine McLeod was named to the All-Conference First Team. The Alaska native was the everyday leftfielder for Head Coach Dick Adams, but shifted to centerfield late in the season, after an injury sidelined regular centerfielder Nick Wagner.

McLeod, usually hitting in the ninth spot in the order, hit .376 in conference play for the Coyotes, with 17 RBI's and 19 stolen bases, tops in the conference. This was the third-highest average on the club during the Foothill schedule.

On the Second Team, Darren Green got the nod as a relief pitcher. Green, a native of Boron, lowered his earned run average by over six points from last year's total. Green sported an ERA of 1.54 in 23.1 conference innings this year, pitching in 10 games out of the bullpen. The 5'10", 160-pound lefty struck out 13 hitters and failed to walk a man in his conference appearances this year.

Canadian native Kip Keith also received a Second Team nod for his work in right field this season, as Keith took over for the departed Justin Shiverdecker.

Keith was a solid leadoff hitter for Adams all season long, pounding 33 hits in 27 conference games. Keith was second in the conference in runs scored with 27, and was in the top 20 in doubles, cracking six two-baggers. Keith also had two triples and a key three-run home run during the Conference Tournament. The speedy outfielder finished third in the Foothill in stolen bases with 15. Keith was also one of the hardest men to strike out in the conference, fanning only seven times in 120 conference at-bats.

Catcher/first baseman Tony Teixeira was also a Second Team selection, making the squad as a designated hitter along with Kalab Madison of Mt. San Jacinto.

Teixeira, a freshman from Carson City, Nev., platooned at catcher with Adam Auer in addition to occasional first base duties and hit .394, best on the team during conference play. Teixeira also had eight doubles, a triple, and a slugging percentage of .535.

May 9, 2004