Coyote Athletics : Baseball : Articles: 4-11-2006

Coso back on track, sweeps Victor Valley

By Kyle Kensing, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

Coso’s Jessie Zuber in action earlier this season. Zuber got a win Saturday against Victor Valley. Daily Independent File Photo By Kyle Kensing

Cerro Coso had little margin for error in its weekend series with Victor Valley. The team is currently third in the Foothill Conference, seeking one of its two postseason berths.

The Coyotes answered the call with a pair of wins Saturday, 9-4 and 15-5.

Coso fell behind 2-0 early in the second half of the doubleheader. That gap didn’t last long.

The Dawgs went for four runs in the third inning, beginning with short stop Mark Sayas.

He got aboard on an error and stole second, with Cody Reiger driving him in with a single.

After Jon Proesl flew out, Paul Saville doubled to drive in Reiger. Saville was rewarded for his RBI when Andrew Masojc hit one of his own.

Cameron White completed the two-out rally with a run-scoring single.

That half-inning set the tone for the rest of the game, with the Coyotes scoring three more in the fourth, four in the fifth, and another four in the sixth.

Leading the Coso hit parade were Proesl and Reiger, who knocked in five and four RBI respectively.

Masojc had an RBI and two doubles in a 2-5 showing.

Jessie Zuber pitched five innings in the seven-inning affair to get the win.

Greg Byron and Tyler McAllister each pitched an inning in relief.

Saturday’s early game win didn’t come quite as easily for Coso.

The first half of the doubleheader required extra innings, with CCCC digging it out 9-4.

“We had chances to put it away,” said Coso head coach Dick Adams.

One such chance came in the top-half of the seventh inning — the originally scheduled final inning — when the Dawgs loaded up the bags with no outs.

Coso failed to score however, forcing it to go a full nine.

The Coyotes rectified their mistake in the eighth with a five-run outpouring.

Adams said his team put on a solid defensive performance, a welcome change from Thursday’s game with Victor. The Coyotes committed six errors in that win.

“It was a much better played game by both teams,” Adams said.

Ryan Short made the start, his first game action in over a month.

He went two innings before meeting his 40-pitch maximum.

“He isn’t at full arm strength yet,” Adams said. The Coso coach added he will evaluate the right hander this week before deciding if he’ll send him out this weekend.

Kade McAllister and Felice Cammisuli came on in relief of Short, each going 3 2/3 innings.

Cammisuli, normally Adams’ closer, picked up the win in his extended appearance.

At the plate, Coso picked up 13 hits including a two-run homer from Proesl.

Andrew Hill and Sayas added some firepower of their own. Each had an RBI.

CCCC takes a break from conference competition, hosting the Mash in the Mojave Tournament this week at the Dawg Yard.

Taft and Oxnard are in town for the four-game round robin.

Coso takes on Taft in a doubleheader today, with the first game opening at 4 p.m. Adam Garner takes the ball for game one, with Aaron Keplinger going to the hill in game two.

Taft and Oxnard lock up tomorrow, and Coso faces Oxnard in the finale Thursday.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006