Coyotes advance to semifinals

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Madera catcher Maddisson Anguiano makes the tag on the incoming Clovis West runner to end the first inning. The Coyotes used the momentum to score three runs in  the bottom of the first in Wednesday’s 6-4 playoff victory over the Golden Eagles.

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The Madera Coyotes softball team played a complete team game and took advantage of the many opportunities provided by the Clovis West Golden Eagles for a 6-4 victory in the Div. I Central Section quarterfinals at Zimmerman Field.

The fourth-seeded Coyotes banged out eight hits and took advantage of seven Clovis West errors for Wednesday’s victory over the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles.

The Coyotes played Clovis North on Friday in the semifinals. It’s the third year in a row the Coyotes played Clovis North in the playoffs, and also in the third different round.

Savana Cortez drove in two runs with a double and a single to set the school record for RBIs in a season with 40, breaking the record set in 2011 by Brianna Perez.

The top three hitters in the Coyote order — Malea Ricks, Brilynn Santiago and Cortez — combined to go five-for-eight with five runs scored. Ricks added a first inning triple that set the tone.

The Coyotes scored three runs in the first inning, but the Golden Eagles scored a run in the second, third and fourth innings to chase starter Isabella Aguirre.

Aguirre allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Viviana Nombrano picked up the win in relief. She allowed two runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings. She struck out five and walked one.

The Coyotes were also clean on defense. They didn’t have an error and made plays to keep the Coyotes in the game. Third baseman Kearney Opfergelt made a diving catch in foul territory, Savana Cortez erased an error with a perfect strike to throw out a runner at the plate, and freshman shortstop Gianna Ruiz made a nice snag in the seventh, and threw out the runner after a 360 degree turn.

Madera put Clovis West on its heels in the very first inning. The Golden Eagles, who put a runner on base in every inning, got a one-out single.

A stolen base and a passed ball moved the runner to third. With two outs, Madera tried to pick the runner off of third, but the ball went into left field. Cortez, backing up the play, got to the errant throw and threw a strike to the plate. Catcher Maddisson Anguiano made the catch and the tag to end the inning.

That momentum carried into the bottom of the first. Ricks led off the inning by hitting a fly ball over the left fielder’s head for a triple.

Santiago put down a bunt, and reached for a single. The throw went wide of first, and into right field. Ricks scored the first run of the game, and Santiago advanced to third.

Cortez hit a grounder to second, and reached when the first baseman missed the throw. Santiago scored for RBI No. 39 for Cortez.

Opfergelt drew a walk. After a fly out, Aryana Gutierrez put down a bunt, but the second baseman covering first missed the throw to allow Cortez to score and Opfergelt to advance to third.

Destinee Avila drew a walk to load the bases, but a force out and a ground out ended the inning with a 3-0 lead.

The Coyotes also put runners on base in every inning and left nine on with six in scoring position.

Clovis West pushed over a run in the second with a two-out, nobody on rally that started with a full-count walk. The next batter doubled to left-center to drive in a run.

The Golden Eagles cut the lead to one in the third with another two-out, nobody on rally that ended with a single and another RBI double that chased Aguirre.

For the third straight inning, Clovis West scored a run with a two-out nobody on rally that ended with a single and a third RBI double to tie the score.

However, the Coyotes answered back with runs in the final three innings. In the fourth, Anguiano reached on an error to lead off the inning.

Pinch-runner Tiahna Taylor advanced to second on an error, and went to third on a ground out by Ruiz. Ricks put down a safety squeeze, but Taylor was tagged out at the plate. Ricks advanced to second on the play.

After Santiago walked, Cortez singled off a diving second baseman to drive in Ricks to get the lead back, and record RBI No. 40.

In the fifth, Madera started a two-out, nobody on rally from the bottom of the order. With two outs, Avila singled up the middle. Anguiano singled under the first baseman’s glove with Avila hustling to third.

Ruiz hit a grounder to second that was misplayed for another error, and Avila scored for a 5-3 lead.

Santiago led off the sixth with a single over the head of the pitcher. Cortez doubled down the right field line to put runners at second and third. After a ground out, Nombrano flew out to center, but it was deep enough for Santiago to score for a three-run lead.

Ruiz got the first out in the seventh. Clovis West hit a grounder up the middle, Ruiz made the snag, turned all the way around, and threw a strike to Avila at first for the out. After a ground out, Clovis West launched a ball over the left field fence for a home run.

The Golden Eagles brought the tying run to the plate after a two-out double. However, Nombrano struck out the pinch-hitter on a full count rise ball to end the game, and send Madera to the semifinals.