Coyotes continue to struggle in CMAC
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera’s Kristian Gomez tries to score from first base on a Tommy Molina double during Tuesday’s loss to San Joaquin Memorial. Panthers’ catcher Jordan Smith tagged out Gomez to end the fourth inning.
After a come-from-behind victory over the Sanger Apaches on April 10, the Madera Coyotes baseball team has lost five straight games, including an early week loss to the San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno Panthers.
The Panthers’ 5-2 victory Tuesday over the Coyotes kept them undefeated in the County/Metro Athletic Conference and dropped the Coyotes to 5-5 in the CMAC.
Madera starter Christian Chavira allowed three runs in the first inning, but was solid the rest of the way.
The Coyotes’ offense was limited to just four hits and an unearned run in the loss.
Madera tried to rebound Friday at SJM before closing the season with two games each against Edison-Fresno and Madera South.
Chaivra struck out the first batter he faced. The next batter reached on a bad hop single down the third base line. A walk put two runners on. After a flyout, an infield single loaded the bases. Chavira then hit back-to-back batters to force in two runs. A single to left drove in another run for an early 3-0 lead.
Madera used a two-out rally to answer back with a run. With nobody on base, Brian Hefner hit the first pitch he saw down the right field line for a double. Cole Brincefield followed with a single up the middle and Hefner raced home with a run.
Memorial battled back for a run in the second with a two out, nobody on rally. A single and a double gave the Panthers a 4-1 lead.
From there, it became a pitcher’s dual. Chavira allowed two baserunners over the next three innings.
After seven straight batters were retired, the Coyotes put a threat together in the fourth. Hefner reached when the Memorial shortstop took too long to throw to first. Three batters later, Kristian Gomez hit a popup to the left side of the infield. The Memorial shortstop dropped the popup and Hefner came in to score.
On the next pitch, Tommy Molina hit a drive over the centerfielder’s head. Gomez got the green light around third, but was thrown out at the plate to preserve a 4-2 lead.
With one out in the sixth, Chavira walked a batter and allowed a single. Brixton Gomes came in relief and allowed an infield single to score the Memorial runner from third.
After a walk, Gomes got a flyout to left and one to center to end the inning.
Maderra had a first-and-third threat in the sixth, but a sinking liner to right was caught.
The Coyotes put together a two-out rally in the seventh when Nick Luna was hit by a pitch and Chavira drew a walk. However, a groundout ended the game with a 5-2 Memorial victory.
