Coyotes Bit by the Dawgs

Courtesy of Bill Bayne

The Coyotes trip to face the first place Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs started a day late as weather moved them to travel Saturday and play Sunday and Monday.  OC played with the Dawgs all weekend until about the 5th inning of game 4 when the wheels fell off losing 14 – 3.  The young Coyotes proved they belong however with a team that is now 16 – 6, solidly entrenched in first place, losing 4 – 1, 6 – 5 on a bottom of the 9th walk off double, and winning 6 – 3.

In game 1, a 4 – 1 loss, Mike Monster pitched 3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks.  Jeff May pitched 3 innings giving up 1 run on 3 hits.  The damage was done in the bottom of the 2nd when Tom Pedarichuck hit a 2 run blast.  OC just couldnt get a clutch hit when they needed it off of winning pitcher Andy Reagan.  Brian Elias and Garrett Wiese each had doubles but Reagan allowed just 5 hits over his 7 innings.

In game 2 OC played a great game led by another strong outing from Marcus Drewry, 7 IP, 4 runs, 6 hits, and Pete Tollenaar pitched a perfect 8th taking a 5 – 4 lead into the bottom of the 9th.  Closer Reid Fischer took over and gave up a single to Colby Turple, Adam Romanuck hit into a force out at second, then Mitch Dornblut singled, Cam Comeau doubled scoring Romanuck and Dornblut – game over!  Brian Elias had 3 hits, 2 run, 1 rbi.  This was a demoralizing loss and it would be interesting to see how they respond in Sunday mornings game.

Sunday morning veteran righty Kiefer Rodway took the hill and pitched 5 strong innings –2 runs, 5 hits, 2bb and 2 k’s.  Jeff may pitched the next 2 giving up just 1 run on 2 hits and 3 k’s.  The Coyotes scored 1 run in the 2nd, 3 in 3rd and singles in the 6th and 7th.  The hitting highlight was 2 for 3 performance by Joey Koshman, hitting a home run and a triple, driving in 3 runs and a solo home run by Garrett Wiese.  OC played a solid game especially after coming off the heartbreaking loss the day before.

The OC kids started strong in the finale, scoring 2 runs in the first inning and Zack Burlon tossing a shout through 4 innings.  The Dawgs got to Burlon in the 5th putting up 6 earned runs, the key blow a 3 run homer from the bat of Tom Pidarchuck.  They also scored 6 in the 6th and 2 more in the 7th on the way to a 14 – 3 win.  Brandon Petite was the winning pitcher. For OC Brian Elias had 1 solo home run as OC hit 4 bombs over the 4 games.

The Coyotes dipped in league standings and will really have their work cut out for them this coming weekend hosting the 2 teams they want to finish ahead of, Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack and the Vancouver Island University Mariners.  This will be the final league weekend with the championship tournament starting on Thursday May 12th in Kamloops.

The up to date overall standings are:
PBA      16 – 6
TRU      14 – 10
VIBI      12 – 12
OC       11 – 13
CAL         5 – 17

OC Coyotes are back at home this weekend….
Sat. May 5 1 PM -       TRU  VS  OC
4 PM         TRU  VS  VIBI
7 PM         OC  VS  VIBI
Sun May 6 10 AM        OC  VS  VIBI
12:30 PM   TRU  VS  VIBI
3 PM         OC  VS  TRU