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Coyotes' winning streak continues with rout of AVC

By Nathan Ahle, The Daily Independent

Andrew Masojc and the Cerro Coso Coyotes won their fourth straight conference game Thursday night, defeating the Antelope Valley College Marauders 14-5 at the Dawg Yard. Masojc went 1-for-5 in the game. DAILY INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO BY MIKE DELANEY

The Cerro Coso Coyotes baseball team won its fourth straight Foothill Conference game Thursday night at the Dawg Yard, routing the Antelope Valley College Marauders 14-5.

The streak comes on the heels of a nine-game skid earlier in the year, and the Coyotes are starting to return to form. Cerro Coso improves to 9-10 in conference play with just three weeks remaining in the season.

"The guys are playing hard right now, and our attitudes are good," said Coyotes Head Coach Dick Adams.

Cerro Coso began the game with two runs in the first inning, and starter Aaron Keplinger retired the first seven men he faced. However, in the third inning, a pair of doubles led to two Marauder runs that evened the score at 2-2.

In the top of the fourth inning, Antelope Valley, a 3-13 team in conference play, took the lead with two more runs, thanks to two Cerro Coso errors that occurred on the same play. However, the Coyotes rallied with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie, and the Dawgs never trailed again.

Adams said he was pleased with the way his team responded after falling behind, especially with a seven-run fifth inning in which the home team sent 10 men to the plate.

The Coyotes added two more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to extend their lead.

Keplinger earned the win with an eight-inning performance in which he struck out four, walked no one and allowed nine hits and two earned runs.

"He did a nice job," said Adams of his hurler. "He really battled out there."

Cory Rickets and Adam Garner combined to pitch the ninth inning for Cerro Coso, and each pitcher struck out a batter.

Every Coyote starter had a hit in the game, led by designated hitter Liam Tennant, who went 3-for-4 with two triples. Tyler Curran also went 3-for-4, as did Matt Smith. Coyotes catcher Adam Auer drove in five runs to lead the team in addition to a triple of his own, while Paul Saville had two hits in six trips to the plate, including a triple.

The Coyotes will travel to Lancaster Saturday for a doubleheader with the Marauders beginning at noon. The team's next home game is next Saturday at noon against Mt. San Jacinto.

Friday, April 15, 2005