Late runs down Coyotes
Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune
Madera’s Logan Wattenbarger connects on a first inning hit that allowed him to score the Coyotes’ lone run in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Fresno.
The Madera Coyotes baseball team’s lack of execution led to a 2-1 loss to the Fresno Warriors at Mel Parker Field in the Coca-Cola classic.
The Warriors scored two runs in the sixth inning and held on for the victory. Madera scored its run in the first inning, but couldn’t add to the lead.
“The whole game, we didn’t execute a whole lot of things,” head coach Andy Underwood said. “Logan (Wattenbarger) getting caught with our No. 4 hitter up was a crucial point. We didn’t get our bunts down and missed some signs.”
Madera only managed three hits against the Warriors and one unearned run.
Madera starter Joel Arellano allowed five hits over five innings. He was charged with two runs and the loss after his baserunners scored on a double after he left the game.
Arellano allowed a runner to third with nobody out in the first, a walk in the second and a lead-off double in the fourth that he stranded with three flyouts. However, he allowed the first two batters to reach in the sixth and was replaced.
“We have to have our catcher step up and make the play at first,” Underwood said about Fresno’s sixth inning rally. “At worst, it’s 1-1 and it’s a different ball game. We’re a young team and we’re learning things. The energy was there. We played hard. We had good intent. We just didn’t execute well.”
Eric Wilson drove in Wattenbarger in the first with the Coyotes’ lone run. Zachary Robbins hit a double and Ivan Castaneda hit a single for Madera’s only hits.
Madera got its lone run in the first inning with a nobody on, two out rally. Wattenbarger reached on an error, stole second and went to third when the throw went into centerfield.
Wilson followed with a sharp single to center to drive in Wattenbarger.
The Coyotes tried to add a run in the second, but left Robbins at third. Robbins led off the inning with a double down the left field line. He went to third on a groundout by Adam Arias. However, the next two batters were retired to end the inning.
Wattenbarger drew a two-out walk in the third and promptly stole second. However, he was caught trying to steal third with Wilson at the plate.
Madera had another chance to add to the lead in the fifth. With one out, Castaneda singled to left, but he was picked off first. Zamora followed by reaching second on an error, but the next batter flied out to end the inning.
In the sixth, Fresno led off with a single to right and a bunt in front of the plate that wasn’t played to put runners at first and second.
The next batter doubled in both runners. The next three Fresno batters were retired, but the damage was done.
After Madera went down in order in the sixth, the Warriors put the pressure on reliever Mark Huarte. The first batter reached on an error, but he was forced at second.
After a strikeout, a single put runners at first and third. Huarte then got a flyout to end the inning.
Madera put the tying run on base, but he didn’t go past second. Robbins led off the seventh by getting hit by a pitch. The next batter forced him at second and the next two batters were retired to end the game.
