Coyotes send off seniors with win
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera’s Justin Landero (7) congratulates Anthony Velasquez after Velasquez hit a home run in Friday’s 8-3 victory over Madera South.
The Madera Coyotes baseball team flexed its muscle over city rivals Madera South with a dominant two-homer display in an 8-3 victory at Mel Parker Field.
“As a team, we have been showing a lot of power lately,” Madera head coach Andy Underwood said. “We have been driving the ball in hitters counts and even getting the barrel to the ball with two strikes. We aren’t trying to hit the ball out of the park but rather hitting the ball hard using the middle of the field. The home runs are just products of a good hitting approach and hitting the ball hard.”
Anthony Velazquez and Christian Chavira provided the fireworks in front of a packed crowd Friday night after each hit a homerun to right-center. Both Coyotes combined for three hits and two runs in a win over Madera South.
The Stallions began the game on the right foot after Josh Conigliaro and Caleb Bertoncini collected back-to-back base hits. With runners on the corners Coyotes pitcher Velasquez issued a free base after he was charged with a balk. Conigliaro came in to score, which gave the Stallions an important first punch in the rivalry.
The Coyotes answered in the bottom of the frame with base hits by Justin Landero and Shane Purcell, who crossed the plate after an error on Stallion third baseman Manny Nunez. The Coyotes weren’t finished, however. Chavira stepped up and hit a rocket over the centerfield fence for a two-run homer.
Nick Martinez chipped in also with a ground rule double over the center field wall.
The Stallions headed to the top of the second inning down three runs.
After Velazquez was issued his second balk of the game, a Stallions base runner was put in scoring position. After a throwing error on the catcher, Conigliaro walked in from third cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The game picked up in the bottom of the fourth inning after more gloom befell the Stallions.
After a bloop single by Medellin, the Coyotes scored to take a 5-2 lead.
The Stallions got one back in the top of the fifth inning after Bertoncini drove in his teammate for a 5-3 Coyote lead.
The Coyotes put any doubt to rest in the bottom of the fifth after Velazquez connected on a moonshot over the center field fence. The Coyotes ended the inning leading 6-3.
The Coyotes tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of Tony Noriega’s double.
