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Coyotes fall 11-6 in 13-inning marathon to Golden West

By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

DAILY INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY CHEETO BARRERA Cerro Coso pitcher Jessie Zuber follows through following a pitch in the third inning. Zuber received a no decision after throwing seven and two thirds, giving up six runs.

Cerro Coso had two bad innings against Golden West. Unfortunately for the Coyotes one of those two innings came in the 13th as the Rustlers recorded a 11-6 victory.

Coach Dick Adams said he was pleased with his team's performance but said closer Tyler McAllister - who came in the game with two outs in the seventh - became tired followed by Golden West getting some lucky breaks.

“My closer got extended, just had too many innings and got tired,” Adams said. “They got lucky. They had a few balls that fell into place.”

McAllister to the 13th inning had pitched a solid game, walking none and ringing up two batters. But in the last inning - hindered some by two errors - he got pegged for five runs.

By the time Ryan Fisher came in with one out, the damage had been done.

Adams said the error allowed the inning to continue and instead of going into the bottom half trailing by one or two runs, they instead were looking at a deficit that the Coyotes were unable to make up.

“When I bring Tyler McAllister in, he normally is a one or two inning guy,” Adams said. “He ends up going (four) and two thirds. I told the guys, we're going to come back tomorrow and battle. I've got Kyle Tullis going tomorrow, hope he can keep us in the game.”

The loss is now the sixth straight for the Coyotes who will see Golden West one more time today with first pitch scheduled for noon.

Cerro Coso had opened the game strong, taking a 3-2 lead after the first inning.

The Rustlers tied the game in the second following back-to-back doubles by Billy Nowlin and Chris Torres.

Torres eventually advanced to third, but was stranded there at the end of the inning.

The Coyotes kept Golden West off the boards and took the lead in the fourth inning when Mark Sayas - back in the line up after hurting his ankle - was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

He was advanced to third on a throwing error by Golden West pitching error Joel Bernstein and finally driven home on a bunt by Jon Proesl.

The Dawgs extended the lead in the fifth inning and finally took a 6-3 lead in the sixth.

Through the seventh inning, starter Jessie Zuber kept the Rustlers at bay, helped along by strong defense that witnessed a little bit of luck.

With one out in the fourth inning and a runner on first, Nowlin hit into what should have been a routine, inning-ending double play. Cody Rieger took the feed from Sayas and airmailed it to first.

The ball, fortunately for Cerro Coso, hit the visiting dugout and bounced back into play. The Coyotes forced Nowlin into a rundown and turned the double play.

However, in the seventh inning, an error led to three unearned runs and Golden West tying the game. The Coyotes were kept off the basepaths starting in the seventh inning and continued through the end of the game.

Adams said despite the loss, the team still were able to do some positive things and expects them to play hard today.

“Coming off a disappointing stretch last week, we had a good up-tempo game today,” Adams said. “The bench was strong and active. I'm pleased with the approach, but disappointed with outcome. Going to the 13 inning we had nine to 11 hits - we were right with them.”

Monday, February 26, 2007