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Coyotes on the howl: Coso pounds Barstow

The Daily Independent

Cerro Coso pitcher Matt Smith throws a strike during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Barstow College Vikings at the Dawg Yard. Smith allowed only one hit and struck out five in his five-inning appearance. First baseman Tony Teixeira is at right. DAILY INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY MIKE DELANEY

The Cerro Coso Coyotes avenged a disappointing 10-7 loss to the Barstow College Vikings Thursday with a 17-4 rout of the Vikings in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at the Dawg Yard.

The Coyotes sent sophomore lefty Matt Smith to the mound in search of his second win of the year. It was a successful outing for the lefty, who struck out five and allowed only one hit and no earned runs in a five-inning appearance.

Early on, it appeared as though Barstow would have the upper hand again, scoring two unearned runs on one hit and an error. However, the lead would last only until the bottom of the frame, when the Coyotes exploded for eight runs on five hits and chased Viking starter Chris Paterson.

Andrew Masojc was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and stole second. Kyle Cooper walked, and Smith singled. Adam Auer singled as Masojc scored and Smith took second, while Cooper was picked off going from second to third. Tyler Curran followed and drilled a hit. After a popout, Tony Teixeira singled in Auer. Norm Love followed with a walk. Rodney Black loaded the bases by being hit by a pitch, setting a school record with his 31st plunk in his two-year career at CCCC.

The big blow in the game, however, came with the next hitter, Masojc. Batting for the second time in the frame, the third baseman drilled a grand slam over the left-field wall, scoring Teixeira, Love and Black and breaking the game wide open at 8-2.

The Coyotes went down quietly in the second, but put up seven more runs in the third inning, sending 11 more men to the plate.

Teixeira began the frame by reaching on an error, and Love followed with a single. Black sacrificed the men over, and Masojc was intentionally walked. With the bases loaded, Cooper walked, forcing in Teixeira. Smith followed and helped his own cause with a three-run triple that scored Love, Masojc and Cooper and made the score 12-2. Two batters later, Curran doubled in Smith, and Paul Saville followed with a walk. After a balk advanced the runners to second and third, Teixeira batted for the second time in the inning and singled in Curran and Saville.

The Dawgs added two more in the fourth, led by Black, who was hit again to open the inning. Masojc was also hit and Cooper walked. Two fielder's choice ground balls by Smith and Auer scored the Coyote runs.

The Dawgs cruised defensively, as Smith settled down to retire14 in a row before departing after the fifth.

Barstow's offense finally got going late in the game, scoring runs off Cory Rickets and Adam Cyrynowski in the sixth and seventh innings, when the game was in hand.

March 13, 2005