Coyote Athletics : Baseball : Articles

Wright pitches a gem, then Cerro Coso falls flat

By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

Anthony Dee dives for a catch.

Eugene Wright was a one man wrecking crew against Victor Valley on Saturday, throwing a one-hit gem in game one of the doubleheader.

Wright let his defense go to work in the game, throwing just five strike outs over the nine innings and went on to take a 4-0 victory.

The Coyotes made a couple of errors in the game, but got the job done when they needed to to keep the Rams from crossing the plate.

Cerro Coso struck first in the second inning and added three more in the sixth, effectively taking some of the pressure off of Wright and locking up the game.

The Coyotes finished with 10 hits in the game, led by Jake Orrs 3-4 outing, driving in a run.

Fred Bellow and Mark Moriarty each had a pair of hits and each drove in a run.

The win followed up on Thursdays schlacking in Victorville, where Cerro Coso won 13-0.

But the Rams would not go quietly.

After being shutout for 18 innings, Victor Valley opened up on Drew Firebaugh, making his first start of the season for the Coyotes, scoring two runs in the first and plating four in the third.

Firebaugh lasted just two and a third innings in his starting debut. Firebaugh was normally came out of the pen to get a few quick outs or appear in long relief.

Jake Orr tags a player out.

Steve Johnson, who was delegated to the bullpen, went two and two thirds innings in relief and was eventually replaced by Wes Oliver who went the remaining two innings.

Cerro Coso had its chances to come back, taking the lead in the second thanks to a three spot in the inning.
But after the Rams went up 7-3, the Coyotes were unable to get back on track.

Two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth was as close as Cerro Coso came, trailing 8-6 with two innings to go.
An insurance run in the seventh for Victor Valley sealed the deal.

Cerro Coso now stands at 20-21 overall and 11-10 in the Foothill Conference.

The Coyotes will next take on San Bernardino Valley, who was eliminated from the playoff contention after getting swept by Rio Hondo last week.

Both teams close out the regular season starting today in Ridgecrest followed by a doubleheader on Thursday.

Normally, the schools play a single game on a Thursday and a twin bill on a Saturday, but with the playoffs coming next week, the conference opts to give the post season bound schools as much rest as possible by giving them short rest in the last week.

Darren Travers will get the nod today and Eugene Wright is scheduled to start game one on Thursday in San Bernardino.

The game two starter is to be determined.

Todays game is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. with Thursdays at noon.

All three games will be on the radio at Foxtalk 1360 AM, KWDJ.

April 26, 2008