HENDERSON, Nev. (April 17, 2019) – Some time off may have been just what the No. 11 College of Southern Nevada baseball team needed.
 
The Coyotes were able to focus on academics, work on skill development and rest their bodies during the week-long break in Scenic West play, preparing for an important stretch run throughout the rest of the month. However important those factors were, the team was also able to relax while rival Salt Lake Community College went 1-3 against the College of Southern Idaho, bringing the standings closer.
 
Whatever the benefits were for CSN last weekend, Coyotes coach Nick Garritano said his team made full use of the time off.
 
"We feel that we had a very productive bye week on-and-off the field," he said. "We had the opportunity to focus more time on the academic side of being a student-athlete. We also had a chance to stretch some of our bullpen arms out."
 
Southern Nevada is back to work this week as they prepare to face off against Colorado Northwestern Community College at Morse Stadium. The Coyotes previously swept the Spartans in a road series in March, beating them in two games. CNCC is just 4-14 in league play and is 7-27 overall.
 
Garritano said the Spartans have an improved program that has to be thoroughly prepared for.
 
"We are as excited as can be to finally play at Morse Stadium," he said. "We have gone close to four weeks without a home game. You can forget about the records as CNCC always plays at a different level against CSN."
 
The Scenic West standings are tighter after Salt Lake's struggles last weekend as the Coyotes are mere percentage points behind the Bruins (.783 for SLCC and .778 for CSN). Salt Lake will be at home this weekend against USU Eastern but will close the season on the road. The Bruins and Coyotes will square off in the final series of the regular season in Henderson.
 
Garritano said the tightening race gives his team plenty of motivation as the season pushes on.
 
"(This weekend) definitely puts us back in the race without having to win out," he said. "We will continue to focus on how we can get better and see where we stand at the end of the regular season."
 
Southern Nevada's four-game series against Colorado Northwestern will begin on Friday at 1:00 p.m. as the two teams play a doubleheader. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 12:00 p.m. Live stats for the series will be available at csncoyotes.com.