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Cerro Coso wins game one of a doubleheader in wild fashion

By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

Franklin Romero, Jr., picks himself up off the ground after sliding in safely to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on an errant pick off throw. Ryan Keplinger (30), who was up to bat when the pick off attempt was made, starts to celebrate with Romero. More Photos

An errant pick throw mixed with Franklin Romero’s speed allowed Cerro Coso to win game one of its doubleheader against Santa Barbara 2-1 on Tuesday.

Romero was hit by a pitch with no on and two out in the bottom of the seventh and final inning with the game tied 1-1.

Having to respect his speed, pitcher Jeremy Peterson attempted to keep him close to first but airmailed the ball into the bullpen.

Romero was then off to the races.

As he came charging into third, base coach Jason Ruiz put up the stop sign, but Romero ran right through it.

But the cutoff man dropped the relay and Romero slid into home safely and was subsequently mobbed by his teammates who emptied out of the dugout.

That secured Cerro Coso’s fourth straight win and now improves to 6-5 overall, with game two still in progress.

Romero was responsible for both Coyote runs in the game, having hit an RBI double in the fifth to score Joe Keiser from second. He also had a sacrifice bunt in the first and reached on an error in the third.

Keiser had the only multi-hit game for the Coyotes, going 2-3 with a run scored.

Pitcher Darren Travers got the win in a much better outing than on Friday where he gave up 10 runs in the Coyotes’ 18-11 win over West LA.

Travers went a complete seven innings, giving up one run on five hits and two walks, and struck out four.

Travers cruised through most of the game, allowing just two runners to advance further than second.

His lone blemish came in the sixth inning when he gave up an RBI single with a runner on second and two outs.

Santa Barbara had led off the inning with a single, but Travers induced a ground ball to short for the force at second. But Cerro Coso was unable to convert the double play. The runner advanced on a stolen base and went to third on a sacrifice fly to right.

Peterson took the loss going one and two thirds innings giving up one unearned run with no hits and one strike out.

He came in relief of Chad Caraccioli who went five in the no decision, giving up one earned run on five hits and five walks with three strike outs.

Leading the offense for Santa Barbara was Corey Krupp who went 2-3 with a double followed by Jeremy Baum who went 1-3 with an RBI single.

After today, Cerro Coso will return to action on Friday to start a three game series against Golden West.

All three will be on the radio at 1360 AM, KWDJ and online at www.foxtalk1360.com.

Because of technical difficulties, the scheduled radio broadcast for game one was canceled.

Read Wednesday's edition of the Daily Independent for information on the second game of the Coyotes' doubleheader.

Tue Feb 17, 2009