Cibola-Kofa game suspended until today

The sun set on the field Wednesday before it could set on Cibola's season, but it left a glimmer of light that the Raider season could continue.

Needing a win against Kofa to not only avoid a sweep but keep any hopes of the postseason alive, the Raiders' home game against the Kings was suspended in the top of the ninth inning due to darkness with Cibola down 11-9.

The game will be continued at 1 p.m. today at Cibola. Justin Gorman was on the hill for the Kings while Jose Vega was pitching for Cibola. The last at-bat was a two-run home run by Travis Carter off of Vega.

Even if the Raiders (12-15, 4-4) pull off the comeback - they've already erased two Kofa (17-9, 6-2) leads, including a 9-6 Kofa lead in the bottom of the seventh - a playoff spot is not guaranteed.

The Raiders scored three in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game when Jerry Renteria - who hit a grand slam in the first inning - hit a two-run single and advanced Daniel Vega to third, who scored the tying run on a wild pitch. The Raiders had two on with just one out after an

Edgar Borquez intentional walk, but Blake Johnston got the final two outs.

In the eighth with the game still tied, Cibola got runners to second and third with one out. But Daniel Vega struck out, then after Josh Contreras was intentionally walked, Renteria could not add to his six RBI day, flying out to center.

"It's on our shoulders," Cibola coach Duane Evans said. "We had opportunity after opportunity and we didn't get the job done. We have to man up and say we let it get away. We had two situations to win the ballgame and let it get away."

The Kings already have the Gila Valley Region title and a postseason berth secured. They will likely host a playoff game Saturday, and coach Richy Leon said preserving top relievers Enrique Roldan and Julio de los Reyes is priority. Neither pitched Wednesday, with seldom-used Gorman and Johnston getting work.

"We're going to have to find someone to bounce back," Leon said. "Gorman didn't pitch too much today, so he might be able to bounce back tomorrow. But pitching wins championships, and we're going to try to keep our guys fresh."

Still, Leon hopes playing Wednesday gives the Kings an advantage over their opponent.

"We like to think it will be positive because we'll be playing, and usually in the history of sports people that have big layoff seem to get out of playing well," Leon said. "Hopefully we'll keep it going and make it into an advantage."

Kofa exploded for five in the second to take a 6-4 lead, although three Cibola didn't help Raider starter Alex Miranda. But Miranda retired 11 of the next 12 batters he faced before being lifted in the sixth.

Alonso Dominguez came in a tie game in the seventh - and gave up three runs, but two more Cibola errors didn't help.

Evans said he didn't hesitate in pulling Miranda.

"He was ready," Evans said. "He was tired. He kind of knew his body and he was tired, so it was time to get him out of there. We don't want to hurt anybody or push anybody where something could snap or hurt. He's a young kid with a bright future."

Cibola pulled within one in the third when Contreras scored on a wild pitch, then tied the game at six when Juan Pena doubled and scored on a single by Jose Vega.

Sergio Sanchez started for the Kings and gave up six runs on seven hits, walking out three and striking out five. Johnston struck out five and walked four in his three innings. Miranda finished with nine strikeouts in six innings of work for Kofa, giving up two earned runs and walking three.

For Cibola, Jose Vega was 2-for-3 with and RBI and scored twice, while Contreras was 2-for-5 with two runs. For Kofa, Mark Wright was 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs and singled to start the ninth, scoring on Carter's pre-suspension home run. Carter was 2-for-5 and drove home four, while Gorman added a pair of hits.