Coyote Athletics : Baseball : Articles

Missed opportunities, pair of errors lead to fourth-straight loss for Cerro Coso

By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

DAILY INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY CHEETO BARRERA Jessie Zuber throws a pitch during Thursday’s game against Antelope Valley. Zuber went six and a third innnings in the losing effort, giving up five runs on seven hits.

Hitting woes continue for the Cerro Coso baseball team, dropping its fourth straight game, taking a 6-1 loss to Antelope Valley on Thursday.

A pair of errors allowed the Marauders to get on the score board and rally to take the win. Cerro Coso is now 3-4 in Foothill Conference Play.

A first inning boot gave way to 1-0 lead and a sixth inning error allowed Antelope Valley to regain the lead after the Coyotes had tied the game in the second.

Coach Dick Adams said pitcher Jessie Zuber had his stuff working, but some costly mistakes and missed opportunities forced Adams to end his night early.

Zuber went a strong six and a third innings giving up five runs — three earned — on seven hits, two walks and three strike outs.

He was replaced by Garrett Argyle who went the remaining two and two thirds giving up one earned run on three hits. Argyle was throwing strong against Antelope Valley in the eighth and ninth innings, but a pair of hits in the seventh was all that the Marauders needed against him.

The Coyotes were not without their opportunities to give the pitching some help.

Twice Cerro Coso loaded the bases, once in the third and again in the sixth, but were unable to capitalize. The Dawgs left a total of 11 men on base, a problem that has plagued them since the series against San Bernardino Valley.

In the four game span, Cerro Coso has left 35 men on base.

Adding to the trouble, Tyler McAllister, closer and center fielder for Cerro Coso, is nursing an injury forcing Adams to patch together his squad for the games.

The lone run was scored by Frederick Bello in the second inning, driven in by Andrew Hill. Bello finished as the top offensive player on the day going 2-4 with a double.

Kyle Hanson and Mark Sayas both contributed a hit in the effort.

Adams said another factor in the game was a slight breeze blowing in from the north. The result was balls dying in the gaps that are normally driven through.

But he was quick to add that the boys need to get themselves into the game and find ways to produce no matter what the conditions are.

“I told them they have got to make their own breaks,” Adams said. “People who are enthusiastic, have fun and play aggressive get the breaks.”

The Coyotes will be looking to end their skid on Saturday when they meet the same Antelope Valley squad in a double header on the road.

The scheduled starters are Ryan Fischer and Brett Cobbley.

KWDJ 1360 AM will be broadcasting the first game of the double header, with first pitch scheduled for noon.

Friday, March 23, 2007