Coyotes fall to Hanford Bullpups

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Madera’s Eric Wilson watches his first inning single land to drive in Logan Wattenbarger for the first run of the game in Tuesday’s loss to Hanford.

---

The Madera Coyotes baseball team scored the first run of the game, but the Hanford Bullpups scored the next six and held on for a 6-4 victory in Mel Parker Field in the Coca-Cola Classic.

The Coyotes allowed two runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings, but scored two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to make the game interesting Tuesday.

Mark Huarte was saddled with the loss. He allowed two runs over three innings with four strikeouts. Nic Sweet and Noah Castro also allowed two runs in their outings.

Madera outhit the Bullpups, but couldn’t come up with enough offense.

Lead-off hitter Tyler Zamora led the Coyotes with three hits and scored a run. Eric Wilso had two hits. Ivan Castaneda, Zachary Robbins, Adam Landero, Logan Wattenbarger and Josh Alvarez each had hits for the Coyotes.

Wattenbarger started a two-out, nobody on rally in the first with a sharp single to center. He stole second on the next pitch and scored on Wilson’s single two pitches later.

However, that was the Coyotes’ offense for the next four innings. Madera had a bases loaded threat in the fourth when Robbins started the rally with a single. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, but a flyout ended the inning.

The Bullpups scored a run in the third on a lead-off walk to the No. 9 batter. A double, sacrifice fly and a single gave Hanford a 2-1 lead.

Hanford added to the lead in the fifth with a lead-off double off the batter’s eye in centerfield. On the 12th pitch of the next at-bat, Hanford hit a fly ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run and a 4-1 lead.

The Bullpups added two more runs in the sixth before the Coyotes answered back.

Wilson, Zamora and Alvarez scored in the final two innings to make the game close, but the Bullpuos finished the game for a 6-4 Coyotes’ loss.