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CCCC perfect in league with San Bernardino sweep

By Kyle Kensing, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

Andrew Masojc at bat
Coso third baseman Andrew Masojc last week. Daily Independent Photo By Mike Delaney

Cerro Coso completed a series sweep of San Bernardino Valley Tuesday with a pair of wins, 6-2 and 9-4.

Coso (10-12, 6-0 Foothill Conference) and SBVC went back and forth in the late innings of Tuesday’s second round in the doubleheader, but an early 3-0 lead and a four-run eighth inning provided head coach Dick Adams’ team the cushion necessary for the win.

The Coyotes, holding a 2-0 lead headed into the sixth, pushed across a run, but were matched by SBVC. Two runs for Coso in the seventh were met with two SBVC runs, but the four-run eighth was enough to put the Dawgs over the top.

Aaron Keplinger was the recipient of a line drive shot to the stomach against the Wolverines’ second batter. Adams said if the ball had connected with bone, “[Keplinger]’d be out.”

Fortunately the shot didn’t hinder the right hander, who went 7 2/3 innings, giving up four runs — three of them earned — on eight hits.

Adams said Keplinger didn’t have his best performance, but did “pitch effectively.”

Cameron White caught the second game, and in what Adams said has been a trend for the freshman in the doubleheaders, produced big. He went 3-5 at the plate with an RBI and a double.

White’s RBI came in the second. Paul Saville was on base after a past ball, and advanced to third on an Andrew Masojc single.

White capitalized with another single, and in return was brought home on a sac fly by Andrew Hill for the initial 2-0 Coyote lead.

Third baseman Masojc had another solid day at the plate, batting 2-4 with an RBI. Shortstop Mark Sayas went 1-4, but that one connection was good for a double and two RBIs.

Felice Cammisuli preserved the win with an outstanding inning-and-a-third. He struck out two and surrender no runs in relief.

Second baseman Dusty Romero went 2-4, despite playing on a hamstring he aggrevated rounding the bases in the first half of the doubleheader.

“He stayed in there,” Adams said. “But he was moving gingerly...He lost some range [defensively].”

Adams added that Romero’s status for Thursday’s game at Antelope Valley was questionable, and said his absence would be “a tough loss.”

Aside from Romero’s hamstring injury, the first game, a 6-2 win, was mostly a positive one for Coso.

Working on four days of rest, Adam Garner won his fifth game in a “dominant” performance.

He gave up Wolverine runs in the first and second innings, and was lights out the rest of the way.

“[Garner] settled in, and shut them out the rest of the way. He was exceptional,” Adams said.

Exceptional translated into five strikeouts, while surrending just the two runs on seven hits with one walk.

Adams added he is looking to give Garner the ball again Saturday when CCCC hosts AVC.

Offensively, Zack Wilson had a monster outing. He batted 3-5, including two RBIs. He ignited the Coyotes in the second inning with a double, bringing home catcher Kyle Hanson and Romero, the latter of whom reached on a planned sacrifice bunt.

Hanson went 3-5 with an RBI, and Kevin Orlowski batted an excellent .750 at 3-4, including a double.

Adams said that something he was pleased with his team for had nothing to do with strikeouts or hits, but everything to do with professionalism.

“[SBVC] wanted to get us into a verbal war, but our guys didn’t fall into that trap,” he said.

With its second series sweep under its belt, Coso sits atop the Foothill Conference, with Chaffey right behind at 5-1.

Coso gets a test starting today when it opens a three-game series with Antelope Valley, a team Adams said can cause problems with its pitching.

“We’re anticipating a good series,” he said.

The first game is today in Lancaster with a 2 p.m. start. AVC comes to CCCC Saturday for a doubleheader, with the first game kicking off at noon.

Ryan Short, who has dealt with elbow soreness, could be called upon to start today, but if he’s not ready Kade McAllister will get the call.

Thursday, March 16, 2006