Coyotes continue rebound effort
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera’s Tony Noriega singles in one of his three runs in Friday’s victory over the Edison Tigers. Noriega led the Coyotes with four hits and scored two runs.
After dropping five straight games in the middle of the County/Metro Athletic Conference schedule, the Madera Coyotes baseball team has won three straight after a 12-3 victory over the Edison-Fresno Tigers.
The Coyotes picked up a much-needed victory over CMAC leading San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno before winning the first game of the weekly series with the Edison-Fresno Tigers.
The Coyotes closed out the series with the sweep after Friday’s victory.
“It was nice to have a relaxed game at the end,” head coach Andy Underwood said. “We did a really nice job offensively. We scored in every inning, but the last. We had a chance in that last inning, too. It was a fun game. A lot of guys got some reps.”
The game was close early on, but the Coyotes scored in every inning except the sixth and cruised to the 12-3 victory. They banged out 17 hits, including six doubles, in the win.
Although he was shaky on the mound, Christian Chavira was clutch at the plate. He was 2-4, both doubles, with three runs scored.
No. 2 batter Shane Pursell was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two doubles and an RBI. Tony Noriega was 4-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs.
“Christian and Shane are extremely hot right now,” Underwood said. “Shane is bunting for hits and showing some power. His speed is killing people. He is one of the top in the state in stolen bases.”
The Tigers were handcuffed after scoring three runs in the first two innings. Brixton Gomes silenced the Tigers’ bats. He allowed three runs over three innings to pick up the victory. Kristian Gomez tossed the final two innings in relief with three strikeouts.
“Brixton has been that guy all year for us, whether it was a tough situation or coming in to cool everything down,” Underwood said. “He put up three zeroes for us. That was the best I’ve seen Kristian throw all year. He was really comfortable, having fun and letting loose.”
Edison got the scoring started with a solo home run over the right-centerfield fence. A single and a double added another first inning run.
Madera came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Chavira led off the inning with a ground-rule double over the right-centerfield fence. After Pursell drew a walk, Brian Hefner doubled to the right-center gap to drive in Chavira and Pursell.
Cole Brincefield reached on an error and Hefner scored for a 3-2 Coyotes’ lead.
The Tigers tied the score in the top of the second with a lead-off single, a wild pitch and another single.
The Coyotes reclaimed the lead in the second. With one out, Chavira doubled and scored when Pursell hit a ground-rule double over the centerfielder’s head.
Although he allowed a runner in each inning, Gomes kept the Tigers off the scoreboard to let the offense take charge.
Madera scored two runs in the third. Noriega singled and stole second. Tommy Molina reached on an error. Isaac Chavira reached on an infield single to score Noriega and Molina scored when the throw to first went into right field.
Pursell led off the fourth with another double to deep center. After two strikeouts, Noriega singled to right-center to drive in Pursell for a 7-2 lead.
The Coyotes put the game away in the fifth. Chavira was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth. Pinch-runner Nick Aguilar stole second. After another strikeout, Christian Chavira was hit by a pitch.
Pursell reached on a bunt single to load the bases. After another strikeout, Brincefield singled up the middle to drive in Aguilar and Chavira. Noriega doubled down the left field line to drive in Pursell and Brincefield. Gomez singled to left and Noriega came around to score for a 12-3 lead and a comfortable victory.
