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Loss jeopardizes Coso playoff hopes

By Kyle Kensing, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

Pitcher Ryan Short. Daily Independent File Photo By Kyle Kensing

Cerro Coso head coach Dick Adams called it “the inning from hell.”

In one seven-run explosion Thursday, Mt. San Jacinto put a serious dent in the Coyotes' gasping postseason aspirations.

Coso (19-20, 13-6) came into Thursday's road matchup third in the Foothill Conference, trailing Rio Hondo and Chaffey for one of the two available playoff berths, but came up short 8-2.

Things started off well enough for CCCC. Paul Saville added to his season .343 batting average with a triple to open the second innings.

A Cameron White single drove the left fielder Saville in for a run, and a 1-0 lead.

Andrew Hill scored next for a two-run Coyote advantage. He got on base after being hit by a pitch, was advanced with a Dusty Romero single, and scored on an Eagle error.

MSJC scored once in the fourth, but early on that was the must it could muster against starting CCCC pitcher Adam Garner.

“He had good stuff going,” Adams said of his 6-foot-4 righty. “He was throwing well.”

Garner (7-6) went 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine batters while giving up just one walk. He surrendered 11 hits and seven runs, but just three of those were earned.

He would eventually take the loss, courtesy of the aforementioned sixth inning - an inning Adams would like to forget.

A slew of miscues and mishaps cost the Dawgs dearly, and opened the flood gates for the homestanding Eagles.

“We had a passed ball, we misplayed balls hit to the field...[and made] errors in the infield,” Adams said.

Dan Dobson came on in relief, his first appearance in recent weeks due to some shoulder soreness, but he struggled against the initial batters he faced - he had a walk, a hit batter, and a double in three of the first four.

Dobson threw 1 2/3 innings overall, giving up four hits for two earned runs, two walks, and he struck out two.

The loss sets Cerro Coso back considerable in the conference chase.

“We'd need Chaffey or Hondo to fall flat on their face,” Adams said.

Coso has a series remaining with Chaffey, the Dawgs' last of the year, and two games played yesterday after time of press against MSJC.

Adams said whether or not the team's goal of a playoff berth is dashed, his team continues to focus on goals.

“Right now our goal is to finish above .500,” he said. “We go 3-2, we're at .500, so we want to go 4-1.”

Notes: Garner has the team leading ERA. He entered Thursday's game at 3.76....Saville leads the Coyotes in slugging percent, on-base percentage, and at-bats...Chaffey is 15-2 in the Foothill Conference...Rio Hondo is 13-3

Sunday, April 23, 2006