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The Coyotes' sweet 16th

Cerro Coso's baseball season is right around the corner entering it's 16th year

By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

"We think our pitching should keep us in the games."

Last year was a season that head coach Dick Adams wishes could have gone better. After losing 25 games — the most in Cerro Coso history — the Coyotes are looking to put last year behind them and enter into a new chapter in their history.

The Coyotes will get that chance a week from today, opening up at Ventura on Jan. 25. Cerro Coso will make its home debut on Feb. 9 hosting L.A. City.

There are quite a few new faces on the Cerro Coso squad — 22 out of 28 players plus two new assistant coaches — but as Adams puts it, there is no shortage of talent.

On the coaching side, Adams hired Jason Ruiz and Bob Summers as the new assistant baseball coaches.

Ruiz joins the Coyote coaching staff after spending the last two years as an assistant for Southern Utah University. Ruiz played two seasons at SUU where he was a first team all-Mid-Continent Conference selection and the league batting champion in 2004 as he hit .398, hitting safely in 38 of 49 games. He finished his career as a .329 hitter.

Summers is a former baseball and football player at Harbor College. After Harbor he played for Upper Iowa University and graduated in four years — a feat that is becoming harder even among non athletes.

Adams also returns Dan Wallace as a volunteer coach. In his second year, Adams said he has proven to be a valuable asset to the team and expects to be giving him greater responsibility as the season rolls on.

"I cannot stress just how pleased I am with the coaching staff this year," Adams said.

The bulk of the returning players are pitchers, with one position player added to the mix.

Fred Bello leads the list of sophomores as a second team all Foothill Conference outfielder. He will be moved to short stop for the time being as Adams tries to shore up his middle infield.

"Fred is exceptionally fast and creates havoc on the bases when he runs — he distracts pitchers,” Adams said. "That's wonderful in your offense. Fred hit well last year in conference. ... We look to Fred to be our go guy."

The next five are pitchers.

"We feel good that we have experienced pitching," Adams said. "We feel good that we have good freshmen also. We think our pitching should keep us in the games."

Leading off is Colby Ingram, who had several quality starts last year. Colby has evolved into a team leader. We need him to have a good year.”

Colby is joined by Burroughs graduate Clint Williamson.

"Clint had a real good fall," Adams said. "We think Clint could be a starter for us or be abused as a reliever because we only have a couple lefties."

The third returnee is Ryan Fischer, relatively short as a pitcher standing at 5-foot-9, but Adams said he has a fast arm.
"He's a fire ball," Adams said. "He's got real good arm strength and throws the ball well. He's very competitive. He's worked on his breaking pitch this fall. We're expecting good things, great things out of Ryan Fischer."

Third-year Coyote Wes Oliver looks to take over the closer's role replacing Tyler McAlister who graduated last year.
Adams expects Oliver to help lead the bull pen, which at times had struggled last year. The only problem with Oliver was time he missed in the fall because of illness. Adams said the pitcher was near lights out, creating a buzz amongst the team, but that was before having to miss more than a month near the end of fall.

"Wes is a young man that was absolutely phenomenal last fall, and then got mono and missed five weeks," Adams said.
The final pitcher coming back for Adams was the tall and lanky Ryan Gorzitze. "At times he's dominant, he just has to be consistent for us," Adams said. "Again, he is one of our veterans and we expect him to play like one of our veterans."
Cerro Coso, along with the six returnees, will also have a pair of sophomore transfers. One might be Adam's No. 1 pitcher the other will hit No. 2 and play as an outfielder/third baseman.

"They are going to be impact players for us and give us eight sophomores that way," Adams said.

First is Steve Johnson, a pitcher from Lamar, Colo. The other is Mark Moriarty from Elgin Community College in Illinois. Johnson is a converted closer and sidewinder. Adams said he noticed that when Johnson threw the standard over-the-top delivery, his speeds were hitting 87 to 88 miles per hour.

Adams said with a little grooming, it was more than possible that he could get Johnson to hit 90 or higher.

"On the mound he's a very poised, very polished pitcher, He might drop down once in a while, but he's going to be 90 percent over the top," Adams said.

Joining the transfers is about six freshman pitchers, with two who are also able to play as position players: Darrin Travers and Eugene Wright. They are joined by Cameron Tutwiler, Drew Firebaugh, Derek Vay, and Joe Zendejas.

Travers is an option on the corners as well as the outfield. Wright is an outfielder and both are threats with the bats.

"We think that those two players will contribute heavily to our success this year," Adams said.

Travers will hit 86 to 87 miles per hour, coming in second to Johnson. Completing the battery are four potential catchers, two of which will see the majority of the action behind the plate, Jake Orr and Josh Gust, both posses’ good throwing arms. They only need playing time to become top notch receivers. Jake Smith rounds out the catching core that can also play third base.

Outside of Bello, the entire defense is new and Adams is still trying to find where people are best suited. There is a crew of rookies trying to fill the void a 2b. The leading candidate is Anthony Dee, a slick little player. Another January transfer, Joe Keiser looks to be Dee’s biggest competition. Adams may move Dee to shortstop in order to insert Keiser. Three additional infielders may have something to say about who fills these positions. They are second baseman, Ray Barrett and third baseman Chad Hendricks.

One of the most important intangibles is a pair of players who are a little older than the standard community college player, but Adams said they bring a level of maturity and leadership that the team needs.

First is T.J. Gale, who should be the designated hitter batting in the three hole. Gale, 23, returned from a mission’s trip and is a catcher by trade, but a shoulder problem might keep him as a primary hitter.

The second is Keith Gerber, 26, who should see time at first base, but is also splitting time with two other guys as Adams solidifies his lineup. Gerber, from Pennsylvania, tried out for Adams in New York.

Also making a run at first base is Fred Antuna, who joined the team in January as a transfer from New Mexico Community College where he red shirted. Adams said he has a decent bat and has good fielding ability. "We hope he will be a good Christmas present for us," Adams said. Antuna will also see time at third, but Mark Moriarty who is also being looked at as a possible outfielder, was convert to play third.

Moriarty, Adams said, had a solid fall season, hitting two homeruns. Adams ultimately hopes to make a run at the playoffs, needing to finish first or second in the Foothill Conference. But this year, there should be five teams making a run, including defending conference champion Chaffey.

Overall, Adams said the season should go well. He said he will see how the preseason goes, facing seven playoff teams out of 14. He said he will use the preseason as a spring board to the conference and perhaps a playoff run.

January 23, 2008

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