Wasden’s big day helps Coronado to victory
Dane Wasden doesn’t always find his name in the starting lineup for Coronado’s baseball team, but he got the nod at designated hitter on Tuesday.
The senior made the most of it.
Wasden was 2-for-2, drew two walks and drove in three runs to help the Cougars to a 9-2 road win over Silverado in the opening round of the Sunrise Region tournament.
“Wasden’s a guy who’s been coming off the bench for me all year and getting the big hit,” Coronado coach David Padilla said. “Today, I just had that feeling of hey, let’s put him in and see what he does. Great day for him and huge for our team. He really sparked us today.”
Wasden’s biggest at-bat came in the fourth inning with the score tied 2-2. Wasden came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs and singled past first base to score two runs and give the Cougars a 4-2 lead.
“It felt good,” Wasden said of seeing his name in the lineup. “I was ready to get it done.”
Coronado (16-14) fell behind early when Silverado’s Vincent Taormina drove a first-pitch fastball onto the street beyond the left-field fence for a solo homer in the bottom of the first.
But Wasden tied the game when he lined an RBI single to right with one out in the second, and the Cougars took the lead one batter later on an RBI groundout by Jake McLean.
That rally started with a leadoff walk followed by a routine popup off the bat of Nate Ruiz. The wind blew the popup back into fair territory, and first baseman Michael Camburn couldn’t make the play, putting runners at first and second.
The Skyhawks (20-9) got a break of their own to tie the game in the bottom of the second when James Skelly lined out to second baseman Anthony Olheiser. Olheiser tried to double the runner off first, but his throw was wide and went out of play, allowing Payton Ballard to advance to second. Mitchell Ballard then bounced a single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.
Coronado starter Adam Garcia was in control from there. He went the distance, allowing one earned run on five hits, to get the win.
“He was a little tight at the beginning,” Padilla said. “He gave up the one unearned run in the second, but then he settled right in. He got the curveball finally over and that set the tone once he started getting the breaking ball over.”
Donte Glover went 3-for-3, and Nicco Festa added a two-run homer for Coronado, which plays at Basic (26-4) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Cougars upset the Wolves on the final Southeast League game for both teams.
Silverado hosts Canyon Springs (10-20) in an elimination game at 3:30 Wednesday.
Contact prep sports editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587. Follow him on Twitter: @DamonSeiters.
