Chandler, Arizona-- The Coyote baseball team squeaked out a 5-4 victory yesterday afternoon, saving perhaps their most dramatic performance for the season finale. After beating Glendale College 8-1 on Tuesday evening, both teams turned right back around and faced off Wednesday afternoon, but this time at Chandler Gilberts yard.
The Yotes held a firm 3-0 lead through five innings even though they left the bases loaded three seperate times throughout the game. In the 6th, 7th and 8th innings the visiting Gauchos scored four total runs to take the lead going into the bottom of the ninth. In that bottom of the ninth, with no runners on, Adam Paniagua delivered a bomb of a home run over the left field fence to tie the game; but the Yotes were not able to take the lead.
In the following inning, Javier Gutierrez stepped up to the plate with two runners on and the Yotes once again knocking on the door. Gutierrez stood firm in the box and withstood an epic battle from the Gaucho relief pitcher fouling off four pitches in a row with two strikes against him. Finally, Gutierrez blasted a line drive into left center field that scored the winning run of the game for Chandler Gilbert.
Excited teammates poured onto the field mobbing Gutierrez in celebration. First year Head Coach Jon Watson was overheard telling his players how proud he was of the mental toughness they displayed in fighting back to win that game.
The Chandler Gilbert baseball team finishes the regular season with a record of 26-29 and waits over the weekend for the rest of the ACCAC to finish to see where they will be seeded in the playoffs.
