Top team hands Coyotes big loss

The Madera Coyotes baseball team knew it had its hands full facing one of the top teams in the Central Section with the Buchanan-Clovis Bears in town.

The Coyotes needed to play perfect ball to keep up with the Bears, but committed three errors, allowed four unearned runs and walked four batters in a 12-0 loss Saturday in Mel Parker Field.

The Coyotes were limited to just four hits — singles from Isaac Flores, Evan Candelaria, Marcus DeFranco and Ivan Ponce.

Meanwhile, the Bears scored three runs in the first and six more in the second highlighted by a grand slam.

Nathaniel Martinez allowed nine runs in the first two innings, although three of the runs were unearned. Frankie Espejo allowed thee runs, two earned in his two innings pitched.

Candelaria allowed just one hit over two innings with a strikeout. Nathan Palacioz struck out the side in the seventh inning.

Madera had its best chance to score in the second inning. Palacioz led off with a walk. DeFranco reached on an infield single. Both runners advanced 90 feet on a throwing error.

With runners at second and third with no one out, the next three batters were retired without the runners crossing the plate.

Ivan Ponce led off the seventh with a single. He stole second and a wild pitch moved him to third. Three straight strikeouts ended the night without the Coyotes scrossing the plate.