Coyote Athletics : Baseball : Articles

Camps

Directions

Cerro Coso pounds L.A. City in makeup contest

By Nathan Ahle, The Daily Independent

"We can't quite get jump-started... We're like a lawn mower that's been put away for the winter."

With rain forcing the cancellation of a weekend tournament in San Luis Obispo, the Cerro Coso Coyotes traveled to Los Angeles Tuesday for a makeup game with L.A. City College. The game was a success all around for the Coyotes, who earned an 8-0 win.

Aaron Keplinger (2-0) pitched six shutout innings en route to another victory. The freshman right-hander struck out four and walked only two, surrendering only three hits.

"He kept them off balance," said Coyotes Head Coach Dick Adams.

The Cerro Coso bullpen combined to shut out L.A. City as well, as Kade McAllister, Ryan Short and Cory Rickets shut the home team down.

Offensively, Tyler Curran and Andrew Masojc each went 2-for-5, while Adam Auer went 2-for-4, driving in two runs.

Cerro Coso (2-3) got things going with a run in the first and third innings, but broke the game open in the sixth.

Kyle Cooper walked to begin the inning, and Liam Tennant reached on an error. Curran singled, and Norm Love hit a sacrifice fly that scored Cooper. Rodney Black followed with a walk, and Masojc grounded out to first, scoring Tennant. Matt Smith followed with a single to center that scored Curran and Black.

"That was good to see," said Coach Adams of Smith's clutch hit. "He's a guy we're counting on."

Despite the convincing win, Adams feels that the Coyotes have yet to play their best baseball.

"We can't quite get jump-started," the coach said. "We're like a lawn mower that's been put away for the winter."

Cerro Coso will face Mt. San Antonio College tomorrow at Mt. SAC in the first game of the Palomar Tournament. The Coyotes will play host Palomar twice throughout the weekend event.