Coyotes can’t produce in loss to Davis
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera’s Logan Wattenbarger slides in safely to third base after advancing on an error after a stolen base in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s loss to Davis in the Fresno Easter Classic.
After a first game victory in the Fresno Easter Classic on Monday, the Madera Coyotes baseball team ran out of steam in a 9-0 loss to the Davis Blue Devils in Mel Parker Field on the final day of the Classic.
The Coyotes couldn’t muster enough offense while the Blue Devils took advantage of eight Madera walks for the win. They broke open a close game with a five-run fifth inning.
“We are inexperienced and not good enough right now,” head coach Andy Underwood said.
Nick Sweet suffered the loss on the mound despite allowing just two hits. He walked six batters in his four innings. Benji Molina came in relief and walked two in two innings.
“Sweet gave us everything we asked for,” Underwood said.
While Sweet and Molina allowed just four hits in the loss, the Coyotes only had four hits on offense, but couldn’t push a run across the plate.
“We should have put more pressure on them offensively, which put pressure on us defensively,” Underwood said. “It wasn’t a good day of baseball, all around. We are missing all the ingredients to make a cake.”
Ivan Castaneda hit a double for Madera’s lone extra base hit. Molina, Eric Wilson and Logan Wattenbarger also hit singles.
Davis put two runs on the board in the second inning with a lead-off double, a fielder’s choice on a sacrifice bunt and a walk to load the bases. A fielder’s choice and a safety squeeze gave the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead.
Davis scored a run in the fourth with a single, a wild pick-off throw and a sacrifice fly.
Sweet walked the first three batters in the fifth before Molina came in. He allowed a two-run single and walked a batter. He got a strikeout and a sacrifice fly before a two-run double gave Davis an 8-0 lead.
Davis added a run in the sixth off an error, walk and a double-steal attempt.
Madera had just one baserunner through the first three innings.
Adam Landero walked and Wilson singled to open the fourth. However a flyout and a lineout double play ended the inning.
Castaneda opened the fifth inning with a double, but was thrown out trying to take third on a passed ball. Molina followed with a walk and Wattenbarger singled to right to put two runners on. However, two pop flies ended the inning.
Landero opened the sixth by getting hit by a pitch and Wilson walked to put two on with nobody out. A double play and a flyout ended the threat.
Wattenbarger earned a two-out walk in the seventh. He stole second and advanced to third when nobody covered second base. However, a strikeout ended the game.
