Eduardo Miranda
The Daily Independent
Nine runs scored in the top of the third are what separated the Cerro Coso baseball team from celebrating a home win against Inland Empire Athletic Conference opponent Desert in the first game of three. In a matchup between No. 3 Desert and No. 4 Cerro Coso, the Coyotes fell 11-8 at home after a sluggish start on the mound and defense, but after turning it around created a run that just fell short. Head Coach Justus Scott spoke on the loss.
"It was a good comeback," he said. "You put yourself down 11-1, it's tough to comeback unless you are playing a really bad team which Desert is not. You can't play baseball like that; it takes nine innings and it takes nine guys to do it."
The Coyotes took an early 1-0 lead when Justin Austin scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first but the lead didn't last long when the visitors scored two runs in the top of the second on a sacrifice flyball and an error from catcher Brooks Scott. But it was in the top of the third, where the Roadrunners offense took advantage of errors and gaps in the defense to score nine runs.
During the nine-run rally by Desert, the Coyotes committed two errors and had two pitchers on the mound starting with Herbie Mitchell who gave up three hits for five runs with three earned, and was pulled with the score at 4-1 and the bases loaded with no outs. Trenton Doty took the mound and allowed two hits for four runs with three earned including a three-run homer before getting the final out. The Coyotes trailed 11-1 and looked to be in for a long nine innings of baseball.
The Coyotes called upon Jacob Rice to take the mound and the left-handed freshman put in a spectacular performance that gave hope to the home team of being able to make a rally and steal game one of the series. He threw six scoreless innings and gave up only two hits with a walk and four strikeouts. In four of the six innings he pitched he retired the side and also received plenty of defensive help from center fielder Cole Fowler who made two diving catches, third baseman Kelvin Baez, second baseman Gavin Fraser, and shortstop Ariel Rodriguez both made the catch and throw to first baseman Seth Moore for the groundout, and a perfect throw from left fielder Garren Gledhill to Scott to get the runner out at home. Scott spoke on Rice's performance on the mound that gave his team a chance to make a rally and cut the deficit.
"That is the only way we have a chance to even make it close is what he did the last six innings, shutout baseball for six innings with what I believe is one hit maybe two," the Coyotes coach said. "He became a college pitcher today and hopefully he remembers that for his next outing. It shouldn't change anything and the same thing for the guys who were watching he pitched."
The Coyotes scored two runs in the bottom of the third after giving up nine runs. Jonluke Hobdy doubled to bring home Garren Gledhill, and Baez groundout but brought home Moore. Cerro Coso went into the fourth trailing 11-3, and Rice held the Roadrunners scoreless the rest of the way. The Coyotes offense had plenty of chances with designated hitter Xander Hernandez getting an RBI on a hit to score Hobdy in the bottom of the fifth but left Rodriguez stranded on third.
In the sixth, the Coyotes had the bases loaded with one out after Baez walked that brought in a run, and Scotts was at bat. He hit a popped ball to the Desert third baseman and Rodriguez hit a line drive that forced the visiting shortstop to make a diving catch. In the bottom of the eight, the Coyotes had the bases loaded with one out and Brooks was at bat. He popped the ball up to the first baseman in foul territory and Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning. In the ninth, Coyotes had the bases loaded and Gledhill was hit by a pitch to score a run. That brought up Moore with the bases loaded who popped out to the third baseman but Fraser scored on a wild pitch. Hobdy was at bat and got a hit to score Fowler and cut the deficit to 11-8, but Baez struck out and Aidan Johnson in first at bat hit into a routine groundball.
The Coyotes (14-17, 7-8) have two games remaining with the Roadrunners. They travel to Desert on Thursday and return home to host on Saturday with the first pitch at 1 p.m. Looking ahead to the next two crucial games, Scotts spoke on what he wants to see from his team.
"Again, it is a complete baseball game which we haven't done in a long time," he said. "Again, it takes nine innings to win a college baseball game. Not eight, not seven, certainly not just a couple it takes nine innings of good baseball on the mound and defensively to give yourself a chance to win. There is no better example than today in the first two innings. A couple of hit batters, couple of walks, three or four errors and that is what happens."
The Coyotes are at Desert on Thursday with the first pitch at 2:30 p.m.