Coyote Athletics : Baseball : Articles

Coso bats produce big in conference series sweep

By Kyle Kensing, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

Cerro Coso’s Andrew Hill looks to pick off a Barstow base runner in the first game of Saturday’s double-header. The Coyotes beat BCC 12-1 in the day’s second game.

Cerro Coso had its long game working Saturday in a 12-1 win over Barstow, completing a three-game series sweep.

The Coyotes (7-12, 3-0 Foothill Conference) hit four doubles, four triples and two home runs in the one-sided slugfest and second half of a double-header. Leading the way was left fielder Paul Saville.

The preseason All-America selection got the ball rolling in the first inning, when with two outs and Dusty Romero on board, he blasted a triple that began a three-run rally.

Kyle Hanson followed with a single, and Andrew Masojc drove him in with another triple.

Saville had another opportunity to make his presence known at the plate in the fourth inning. With Romero on base again, he cranked a shot out of the park for his second round-tripper of the season.

“We had a good start after the bats struggled in the first game,” said Coso head coach Dick Adams.

The Coyotes managed four runs on just four hits in the first game of the double-header.

Saville’s two-run blast came one inning after Cameron White drove in Hanson and Masojc with a three-run shot over the wall in left-center.

Coso’s offensive production gave plenty of breathing room to starting pitcher Ryan Short, who went six strong innings.

He gave up just four hits and no runs, while striking out four and walking none.

And all that came without use of his curveball.

“He’s been flirting with tendonitis [in his elbow] all season,” Adams said.

Because of Short’s elbow troubles, Adams advised the right hander to lay off his curve.

“He has plenty of other pitches to work with,” Adams said.

Kade McAllister came on in relief and picked up where Short left off.

He threw two innings, giving up one hit with no runs. He also struck out four Viking batters and walked none.

Completing the trifecta, Coso’s defense played an error-free game, a pleasant surprise according to Adams.

“The second game of a double-header seems to be the one where you make a lot of errors,” he said.

The Coyotes’ early undefeated conference record will be tested Thursday when they host San Bernardino Valley, a team Adams said is among Coso’s most heated rivals.

“They’re one of the three who are usually right in it to finish in the top two in conference,” he said.

SBVC enters Thursday’s meeting, the first in a three-game series, coming out on the wrong end of a sweep against Chaffey.

Adams said the losses and the schools’ rivalry should result in a fiery series.

Thursday’s pitcher had not been decided as of press time. Adams said Short may not pitch this series in an effort to rest his elbow.

Tuesday, March 7, 2006