After a loss to the Vikings in Castaic’s last Foothill League contest, the Coyotes won five straight games including a 5-2 victory over the Vasquez Mustangs on Tuesday for the team’s 15th win of the season.
“We played good defense. We pitched pretty good, but we didn’t execute on some of the things that we were trying to work on today,” Castaic head coach Darrell Davis said.
After the game, Davis said that the Coyotes (15-8, 5-3) need the most momentum possible as the team prepares for a matchup against the Hart Hawks.
Davis added that the team is entering the final stretch of the season and with two series remaining in the Foothill League, these games can determine their season.
“This is my last year. I don’t want to go out early,” he said. “These boys are going to fight and I’m going to fight and we’re going to do what we can to win some games and get into the playoffs.”
One of the top qualities that Davis saw in the win over the Mustangs was how the Coyotes’ pitching staff was able to limit runs on the board.
Junior James Smith started the game for the Coyotes and in the first inning allowed a run but held the Mustangs scoreless until the fifth inning and allowed another run.
Smith ended the day four strikeouts and two hits allowed and was relieved by Nathan Dudra in the sixth.
Dudra held the Mustangs scoreless the rest of the way and ended the game with two strikeouts.
“We threw a couple of different guys on the mound and tried to give them an opportunity,” Davis said. “It worked out for us and we won.”
On offense, senior Michael Fava had the biggest day at the plate for the Coyotes as he went 2-for-3 with two runs driven in along with a one-run double in the first inning.
Davis said the offense had a good day but added there’s still more work to do as the Coyotes left eight runners on base throughout the game.
“That’s not us,” he said. “Gotta execute. We get guys on base, so we got to do the right things and execute to win a game and we’re going to work on it and we’ll get ready.”
The Coyotes will have a short turnaround and host the Hawks on Wednesday in what will be a must-win matchup for Davis.
“The Foothill League is tough, and you have to come with your A game,” he said. “Now we get ready to get back into Foothill League and I know Hart’s going to come here … It’s going to be a battle, and we’ll see where it goes.”
The matchup between the Hawks and Coyotes is on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
