By James Hernandez 

Following an offseason full of anticipation, the twentieth team in the history of Southern Nevada baseball braced for four dynamic opponents from across junior college baseball as they hosted the 2019 Manny Guerra Coyote Border Battle.
The main event to conclude day one of the Border Battle was worth the wait as #11 San Jacinto and #13 Southern Nevada threw down in a battle of national contenders.

Future Pitt Panther Matt Gilbertson got the starting nod on opening night for Coach Garritano and was opposed by the Gators future Oklahoma University commit Dane Acker. The pitching duel that everyone expected materialized as both starters combined to pitch 11.2 innings, surrendering 7 hits, 2 walks and allowing only three runs while punching out 14 batters. Future Houston Cougar Steven Rivas got the sold out "Den" in a frenzy when he smoked a double to the left field gap to knot the game up 1-1. Unfortunately that was the only run the Coyotes would scratch across all evening in a game that saw the pitching dominate the hitting. San Jac's Braden Winge came up clutch in the top of the seventh, singling home the eventual game-winning run. Despite the loss, future Abilene Christian University commit Trevor Jackson was dialed in. The sophomore fired 2.1 hitless innings that included four punch-outs. The Gators outlasted the Coyotes 2-1 in arguably the most entertaining game of the entire weekend.

Dynamic freshman Johny Cuevas out of Palm Desert, California made his much-anticipated debut on the bump in game two versus the Gateway Community College Geckos. Cuevas had some early struggles, issuing five free passes in 1.1 innings of work before being lifted for fellow freshman Jamin Kalaola after CSN fell behind 2-0. Southern Nevada rallied to knot the game up 2-2 in the bottom of the second that was highlighted by a Roger Riley RBI double to the right centerfield gap. The Geckos immediately broke the tie in the top of the third, courtesy of an RBI single off the bat of Jacob Federi. With the team trailing 3-2, Coach Garritano saw his pitching staff issue five more free passes (10 walks total) over the next six frames, ultimately extinguishing any comeback dreams the Coyotes had. Gateway added a four spot in the top of the fifth inning to win this one going away 7-2. The loss dropped Southern Nevada to 0-2 and left the team looking for answers offensively as the team plated just three runs in its first two contests of 2019.

Game three of the weekend for the host Coyotes featured a matchup with the Thunderbirds of New Mexico Junior College. The visitors from Hobbs, New Mexico had plenty of reason to be confident due to the Coyotes inept offense and the fact that they defeated CSN in this same tournament one year ago. Sophomore southpaw Nick Rupp was handed the ball by Coach Garritano and the future University of Houston commit was dialed in from the start. Rupp (5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 5 K's) was dominant at times, setting down ten consecutive Thunderbirds at one point in the game. Despite an impressive outing, Nick departed the contest with the score knotted up at three and therefore did not factor in the decision. A scuffling Southern Nevada offense found itself in a 4-4 dog fight as they came up in the bottom of the seventh. CSN sent a dozen hitters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, highlighted by a three-run tank over the left field wall off the bat of talented frosh Dax Fellows. Fellows paced the team with four Runs batted in, followed by Johny Cuevas with a pair as well as Jack Pineda, Steven Rivas and Jimmy Gamboa with one apiece. When the smoke cleared, Southern Nevada's offense exploded for eight runs on four hits to walk-off NMJC 12-4 courtesy of the run rule. Newcomer Chase Bauerle earned the victory after scattering three hits over 1.2 innings of relief.

The finale of the 2019 Manny Guerra Coyote Border Battle was another top 25 battle between host #13 Southern Nevada and perennial Region I contender Arizona Western College. Dynamic freshman Jimmy Gamboa was on the bump for the Coyotes and was opposed by the Mats Gabriel Ponce. Gamboa had the expected hiccups of a true freshman making his junior college debut, however he showed a knack for making his pitches at the most crucial times. Jimmy kept the Coyotes in the game, surrendering just 2 runs with a pair of K's over 3.2 innings of work. With his team in a 2-0 hole freshman Johny Cuevas clutched up with a 2 RBI single to left that knotted the game up 2-2. The Mats were unfazed by the Coyotes clutch hitting and rallied for four unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a 6-2 lead. Nick "Chewy" Hernandez got Southern Nevada within three runs after a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth, however Arizona Western closer Arturo Gil was able to shut the door on CSN in the ninth and preserve a 6-3 win for a Mats team that left Southern Nevada with victories over San Jacinto and host Southern Nevada.

Fans your Coyotes will be on the road in the Grand Canyon State February 1^st-3^rd to compete in the inaugural 2019 ACCAC Baum Bat Challenge. For a complete rundown of opponents, game times and live updates all weekend log onto www.csncoyotes.com or follow us on Facebook CSNCoyotes and Twitter @CSN_Baseball.