Coyote Athletics : Baseball : Articles

Missed opportunities spell trouble in 5-3 Cerro Coso loss to Rio Hondo

By Kyle Kensing, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

Cerro Coso’s Jon Proesl (foreground) and Paul Saville (background) round third and second bases respectively in the fourth inning of the Coyotes’ 5-3 loss to Rio Hondo. CCCC fell to third place in the Foothill Conference with the loss, a half-game behind the visiting Roadrunners. Daily Independent Photo By Kyle Kensing

Cerro Coso knocked on the door Saturday in the first half of its doubleheader with Rio Hondo, but couldn’t get the runs it needed in a 5-3 loss.

The Coyotes (14-16, 10-4 Foothill Conference) trailed most of the way, beginning with a two-run Hondo first inning, but had chances to bridge the gap.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom fourth, Jon Proesl and Paul Saville got aboard with back-to-back singles.

Dusty Romero smacked one into right-center field that scored the tying run Proesl and moved Saville to third with just one out.

CCCC could not lay down the bunt for a squeeze to bring in Saville however, and the inning was snuffed out with just one run to the Dawgs’ credit.

“We missed a lot of opportunities,” said Coso head coach Dick Adams.

The Roadrunners took advantage and upped their lead to two runs in the fifth. Anthony Benitez and John Leonard each belted shots into the outfield to help Hondo’s cause in the half-inning.

Rio Hondo struck again in the top of the seventh with a solo home run over the left-center wall off Coso pitcher Adam Garner.

Garner went the full seven innings, giving up 11 hits.

“Adam Garner battled,” Adams said of his big right hander.

CCCC had one last chance in the bottom seventh.

Mark Sayas blasted a ball into right field, scoring a run to bring the Coyotes within two runs at 5-3.

The speedy Sayas tried to stretch his hit into a triple, but was gunned down at third base — another missed offensive opportunity.

The second of Saturday’s slate had not finished as of press time.

With the loss, Cerro Coso stands at third place in the Foothill Conference.

“We’re in a must-win situation,” Adams said before Coso’s second half matchup with the Roadrunners.

The Foothill Conference sends only its top two teams to the State Playoffs, so landing in one of those top two spots is integral.

Coso is home again Thursday at 2 p.m., hosting Victor Valley College.

Sunday, April 2, 2006