Coronado’s postseason chances not blown away

Coronado baseball coach Dave Padilla had a simple motivational message for his players Thursday: “We’re back in the hunt.”

The Cougars had every reason to feel that way after a wind-swept 8-5 victory at Silverado that significantly boosted their chances of reaching the Sunrise Region playoffs.

Coronado (12-6-2, 6-5 Southeast League) moved to within a half-game of Liberty (14-8-1, 7-5) for fourth place in the Southeast. The top four teams reach the postseason.

“If we didn’t win this game, then we probably would have been out,” Coronado pitcher Taylor Giordano said. “It’s a big win for us.”

Coronado’s final three league games are at Del Sol (3-14, 2-9) and home against Tech (4-13, 1-11) and Green Valley (23-4, 10-1). Liberty’s final two league games are at Green Valley and Silverado.

“Our heart’s still beating,” Padilla said. “We’ve got three more big games next week. We’ve got to get all three.”

Cody Giordano’s two-run single highlighted a four-run sixth inning that gave the Cougars an 8-2 lead.

Silverado (17-9, 7-4) loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh before pushing across three runs, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

“It was huge,” Padilla said of the sixth. “Going out with a six-run lead helped us a bunch because we gave three back to them right away.”

Taylor Giordano got the win, allowing two runs on six hits in six innings. The junior right-hander struck out five and hit one batter.

“The kids played well today. They really came through big time, especially Taylor,” Padilla said.

Cody Giordano went 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs for Coronado. Matt Hall, Miles Bice and Steven Pollex had two hits apiece, and Zane Korth hit a three-run double in the first inning.

Silverado’s Morgan Stotts homered to left field to lead off the fourth. Dylan Cross and Wyatt Reid both were 2-for-3.