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The Combs’ baseball team defeated Miami for its ninth win of the season on Saturday, Mar. 19, 13 – 1. Yotes’ junior Jerek Bernhardt went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in four runs in addition to getting it done on the mound, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in four innings pitched.
Colt Chance had a hit and three RBI while Dalton Lupton and Josh McDevitt had two hits apiece with two and one RBI, respectively. Tyler Stading, a junior, pitched a scoreless inning in relief to earn the save.
The win had more significance than just the ninth of the season for the No. 20-ranked Coyotes as it also marked the 100th victory in the baseball program’s history, all of them under the leadership of sixth-year head coach John Scrogham.
Combs’ head coach John Scrogham.
The Yotes have won 19 or more games in each of the previous four seasons, including 20 or more the last three. They’ve reached the state playoffs all four of those years, and with 10 wins so far midway through this season, they appear to be on track to extend both streaks this season.
In other words, the Coyotes’ baseball program has been the epitome of consistency during the last five seasons.
“I think a large part of it is having high expectations and not lowering the standards,” Scrogham answered when asked how his program has maintained its success. “It’s not easy to play baseball at Combs High School.”
“Players are expected to work hard and often,” he added. “Because they do so, this often contributes to being competitive. For the most part we have been fortunate to have players to buy into our program.”
The Coyotes are just as fortunate to have Coach Scrogham leading their program.
Congratulations, Coyotes’ players and coaches!
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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