Coyotes beaten in battle of top teams

FRESNO — In what was supposed to be a hotly contested softball game between two of the top teams in the County/Metro Athletic Conference turned into a rout for the Bullard-Fresno Knights over the Madera Coyotes in Fresno.

The Coyotes entered Friday’s match-up with an undefeated CMAC record, giving 4-1 Bullard its only loss. However, 90 minutes later, the Coyotes were licking their wounds after a 9-0 beating to even both team’s CMAC records at 5-1.

The only consolation Madera can take out of the loss is that if both teams repeat the rest of their first half performances, the Coyotes can claim a co-championship, their first in the CMAC since 2012.

After a 4-3 victory over Edison-Fresno in a rain make-up game, the Coyotes (ranked No. 5 overall and No. 1 in Div. II) hoped to start the second half of the CMAC season with a win over the Div. I Knights (ranked No. 6 overall)...