Coyotes fall in quarters

FRESNO — The Madera Coyotes baseball team used late-inning rallies to defeat Hanford in the first round of the Div. II Central Section playoffs, but were victim of late-inning rallies in a 12-3 quarterfinal loss to Tehachapi at Fresno City College’s Euless Park.

The fourth-seeded Coyotes held a 3-1 lead over the fifth-seeded Warriors before Tehachapi tied the score in the fifth and then closed the game with nine runs over the final two innings to eliminate the Coyotes on Thursday.

The Coyotes have overcome adversity all season, including having to play their last five home games away from Mel Parker Field because of damage from a windstorm. However, coming back from a nine-run deficit in the seventh was too much for Madera.

Tehachapi starting pitcher Sagun Gainey, making his first start of the season, showed scouts on hand a mid-80s fastball to limit the Coyotes to five hits and one earned run over 6 1/3 innings. He also had three hits with three runs scored to lead the top of the Warriors’ order who were a combined 10-of-13 with five runs scored and six RBIs from the first three batters...