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Panther poachers: Coyotes sweep doubleheader against Foothill leading Chaffey

By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

“I told these guys, you just set a new bar for yourselves"

A dominant performance from Cerro Coso pitchers couldn't have come at a better time.

The Coyote throwers scattered 10 hits and six runs across two games on Saturday to sweep the doubleheader, winning 5-3 and 8-3.
Cerro Coso now is one game back of the second and final playoff spot from the Foothill Conference, trailing San Bernardino Valley and Desert who both split a pair of games over the weekend.

The Coyotes jumped into fourth place ahead of Rio Hondo who was on a conference bye week.

Cerro Coso is now 9-6 in Foothill play, 2.5 games back of first place Chaffey (10-2) and one back of SBV and Desert (both 8-4).

The Coyotes have three series remaining, two of which are against teams still vying for a playoff spot - Rio Hondo starting on Thursday then San Bernardino to close out the regular season starting April 29.

“I told these guys, you just set a new bar for yourselves, you should not lose the rest of April because you beat the best team in the conference,” said coach Dick Adams.

Darren Travers started things off, going into the eighth inning, giving up three runs on five hits and five walks with three strike outs. Travers had a shutout going through six innings against a team that had outscored opponents by almost 2-1.
After facing one batter in the eighth, whom he hit, Wes Oliver came in, throwing two hitless innings for his fifth save of the year. A hit batsman was his only blemish.

Eugene Wright followed that up, going a complete seven innings in game two, giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk, with seven strike outs.

“You know, these two freshmen are getting better every weekend out. And will build this around them for the future. ... Travers and Wright are getting better each time out. That team is hitting .320 as a team - that club is just mauling people, including us on Thursday.”

Adams added that Oliver had one of his strongest outings to date.

“He came in and was lights out,” Adams said. “This was his fifth save on the year and it probably was the biggest save he's had in his career.”

Wright's only rough inning came in the third thanks to a pair of errors that led to two runs. But he got through the inning facing just six batters, with all the damage coming with two outs.

Cerro Coso's offense picked up runs here and there, but got all it needed through the two games.

In game one, the Coyotes went up 4-0 through five innings, scoring in the first, fourth and fifth innings.

After Chaffey put a three spot on the board, cutting the Coyote lead to 4-3, Anthony Dee came through with his lone hit in the game, and eventually came around to score an insurance run.

Joe Keiser and Franklin Romero, Jr., led the hitters in game one, going 2-3 with a run and an RBI. Jake Orr rounded out the game going 1-3 with two RBIs.

“We only had 15, 16 hits on the day, but they were timely hits,” Adams said. “Our offense played baseball. We got our bunts down, we hit and run, we had a squeeze happen for us.”

In game two, Cerro Coso got all it needed in the first inning.

The Coyotes sent 10 men to the plate, with the first five of six reaching base successfully, scoring five runs. The lone exception was Keiser who hit a sacrifice fly to score Fred Bello.

Dee capped off the inning with a two-RBI single, scoring Romero and Ryan Klorman.

From there, the Coyotes matched Chaffey shot for shot, scoring each time the Panthers did.

In the third when Chaffey scored twice, Mark Moriarty hit an RBI single, scoring Jake Smith and Dee who reached on a hit batter and a walk.

The Coyotes KO'd the Chaffey starter in the first inning and eventually faced four different pitchers through three innings.

T.J. Gale let the team in hitting, going 2-2 with a run scored and reached on two walks.

Moriarty followed going 2-5 with a run scored and two RBI. Bellow rounded out the day going 1-3 with a run and a stolen base.

Cerro Coso will take on Rio Hondo at home on Thursday starting at 2:30 p.m. Steve Johnson is scheduled to take the mound in game one. The series will move on the road for a twin bill on Saturday.

April 9, 2008

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