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Coso baseball team begins season

By Nathan Ahle, The Daily Independent

2005 Cerro Coso Coyotes baseball team

The Cerro Coso baseball team opened its 2005 season this weekend with three games in the Western States Tournament.

On Thursday, the Dawgs began the year on a down note, losing 3-2 to Moorpark College.

Caleb Gallagher, the sophomore who is expected to be Cerro Coso's ace this season, started and pitched well, allowing two runs, neither of which were earned, and striking out six in six innings.

"That was an outstanding performance," said Coyotes Head Coach Dick Adams of Gallagher's outing.

Gallagher left the game with the score tied at 2-2, and reliever Ryan Short gave up the game-winning run in the seventh inning.

Offensively, Cerro Coso mustered eight hits, with Andrew Masojc going 2-for-3 with a triple. Norm Love and Rodney Black each had two hits in four trips to the plate, with Love drilling a double.

The Coyotes battled Glendale College Friday, earning its first victory of the young campaign with a 6-5 win.

The key to the game was four runs in the first inning, all of which were unearned.

"It was a debacle for them (Glendale)," said Adams of the first inning.

Masojc doubled to lead off the game, and Liam Tennant followed with a single. Matt Smith reached on an error that scored two runs, and the floodgates opened.

Aaron Keplinger made his first college start for the Coyotes and pitched a gem, allowing one earned run on four hits in seven innings of work. Kade McAllister added a scoreless inning in relief, and Adam Garner got the save after allowing three runs in a rocky ninth inning.

Love was the hitting star of the game, going 2-for-3 with two RBI's. Tony Teixeira added the Coyotes' other extra-base hit, going 1-for-5 with a double.

Blake Gailen hit a home run for Glendale.

"We really controlled the game," said Adams.

In the conclusion of the tournament on Saturday, L.A. Valley beat the Coyotes 9-3.

The key blow in Saturday's game was a grand slam by L.A. Valley in the seventh inning off reliever Felice Cammisuli. Cerro Coso trailed 5-3 at the time, and the blast broke the game wide open.

Chad Sherwood started for the Dawgs and lasted two innings, allowing three runs, two of which were earned, and four hits in his appearance. Urbano Sanchez was the first man out of the bullpen and pitched well, allowing two runs in four innings of work. Reece Umatum came in to start the seventh and allowed two hits, was charged with an error and a balk and did not retire a batter. Cammisuli then entered the game and allowed the grand slam three batters later.

Cerro Coso scattered seven hits, with no Coyote earning multiple hits. This was a sign of the times during the weekend, as Cerro Coso finished the tournament with a paltry .230 batting average. In the three games, Masojc (4-for-12) and Love (5-for-10) were the hitting stars, while sophomores such as Smith (1-for-13) and Adam Auer (2-for-10) started slowly.

The Coyotes will need to find their stride in San Luis Obispo this weekend, with games against Allan Hancock College, Cuesta College and Riverside Community College in the Pepsi Cuesta Tournament Friday and Saturday.

February 8, 2005