2010
The past two games were statements for Madera head coach Jason Murrietta and the Madera Coyotes.
After a lackluster effort that resulted in an 8-2 loss to lightly-regarded Modesto Beyer in the Coca-Cola Classic, Murrietta gave his team the baseball equivalent of a fire-and-brimstone sermon.
And different they were as they pounded out eight runs on 10 hits to support James Brager, who tossed a complete-game 4-hitter with seven strikeouts to hand the Bullard Knights an 8-1 loss. Then, the Coyotes got a another complete-game performance by Trent Hinkle, who handcuffed the Edison Tigers by tossing a 2-hitter with six strikeouts in a an 8-1 win.
2011
Coyotes pull off win in final at-bat
The fat lady sang.
And she belted out a loud and resounding chorus that could be heard all the way to Merced County, led by conductors Shane Shaubach, who had the game-winning hit with two outs and Bryan Rubalcaba, whose bottom of the seventh-inning performances led the Coyotes to a 5-4 win night over the visiting Merced Bears in the Clovis Coca-Cola Classic.
“Shane is exactly what we are about. A player who does everything you ask, is a phenomenal teammate and who works his butt off every single day whether he is starting or not,” said Madera head coach Jason Murrietta. “He deserved the start today and really drove home the point that in baseball, attitude and hard work pay rewards.”
For all intents and purposes, this game was essentially in the books after the Bears took a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. Merced southpaw Mike Nelson kept the Coyotes in check through the first six innings allowing just four hits and striking out 14 batters.
With Justin Bowles at the plate, Rubalcaba came in to score on a wild pitch to tie the game 4-4.
James Brager then beat out an infield single and with two outs and runners on first and second, Shaubach stepped to the plate.
Shaubach roped a hard-hit single to left to score pinch-runner Jake Valencia for a walk-off 5-4 win.
2012
Coyotes put up fight in home opener
It looked like it was going to be a quick three-set match in the Madera Coyote boys volleyball home opener against Clovis North after the Broncos beat the Coyotes 25-14 in the first set.
However, the Coyotes found some bite and battled the Broncos to the limit before falling in three sets,
25-14, 25-23, 25-22.
“I am very proud of our fight,” head coach Rhonda Jefferson said. “We could have folded. We showed a lot of resiliency coming back and even getting late leads.”
What also hurt the Coyotes were 12 service errors, including five in a winnable second set. Clovis North didn’t help itself either from the service line, committing 11 service errors.
Daniel Barsotti led the Coyotes with five kills. However, he recorded nine blocks. T.J. Singh had seven and Christian Casillas had 6.
Hawks hold onto win
MADERA RANCHOS — The Liberty baseball team had its six-run lead cut down to one, the Hawks held off a late rally by Golden Valley-Merced in the Central Baseball Classic.
Behind the pitching of junior Connor Brogdon and the hitting of senior Wyatt Gorman, Liberty topped the Cougars in a 6-5 battle at Liberty High.
Brogdon threw a complete game and allowed just four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts to earn the win.
“Today, Connor pitched great and threw a lot of strikes,” Liberty manager Martin Carvalho said.
The Hawks built a 6-0 heading into the top of the sixth inning before Golden Valley put up five runs on three hits and two Liberty errors.
“We made an error and they capitalized on it,” Carvalho said. “After that, Golden Valley picked it up and that gave them the momentum but we stopped the bleeding. Once we got back on defense, Connor took over.”
2015
Coyotes better Hawks in Clovis
CLOVIS — The Madera Coyotes put the pressure on the Liberty Hawks defense and scored two two-run innings for a 4-0 victory at the Buchanan Preseason Tournament.
The Coyotes scored two runs in the second and two more in the fourth while taking advantage of three Liberty errors at the Buchanan Softball Complex.
The two teams met three weeks ago in a scrimmage and have met each other in a tournament the past three seasons.