Angels pitcher Damien Coffey was relieved of his pitching duties with one out in the bottom of the fourth against the Athletics on Wednesday.

Although Coffey was just two outs shy of going the distance for the Angels, he had already done his part to ensure an Angels victory. In three innings Coffey recorded seven strikeouts and allowed only one run on two hits and three walks.

With Coffey’s help, the Angels defeated the Athletics 9-1 in U12 Douglas County Amateur Baseball Assn. action at 4-H Cowser Field.

“Phenomenal,” Angels coach Glen Cherveny said of Coffey’s performance. “That was probably the best game that the kid’s pitched.”

After the first inning, the game looked like it would be a nail-biter to the end. Only four Angels came to bat in the first against Athletics starter Ty Hughes. In the bottom of the inning, Coffey sat the Athletics down in order with three strikeouts.

The Angels broke out in the top of the second to provide Coffey plenty of run support. Angels third baseman Kenny Retter led off with a walk and quickly reached third after consecutive stolen bases. A single by the next batter, Coffey, drove Retter home for the first run of the game. The Angels tacked on four more runs in the inning, two of which came on plays at the plate where the Athletics catcher was unable to hold onto the ball after tagging the runners.

Athletics pitcher Ty Hughes fires a pitch to the dish in the top of the third against the Angels on Wednesday. Hughes had four strikeouts in three innings, but the Athletics lost 9-1 to the Angels in 12U DCABA action.

In the bottom of the second, Coffey continued to stifle the A’s.

He faced just four batters in the inning and recorded the third out with another strikeout.

Hughes settled back down in the third inning with some help from his defense. Coffey was the first batter up in the inning and knocked a hit to right-center field. Coffey could have stayed on first, but decided to go for the double. Athletics right fielder Marshall Bonham who entered the game in the second when the Athletics had to shuffle their defensive alignment after an injury to catcher Caleb Francis fielded the ball and gunned down Coffey at second. Hughes would also help himself out with a strikeout in the inning and keep the Angels off the board.

It was more of the same in the bottom of the third as the Athletics still had no answer for Coffey. Coffey again faced only four batters, striking out three, but not before allowing his first hit to Athletics left fielder Arthur Hall.

The Angels extended their lead in the fourth to 8-0 with three runs on three steals of home plate. Despite the deficit, the Athletics made one last push on offense to close the gap.

Athletics second baseman Eric Mayo tries to hold Angel first baseman Billy Barnes on the bag in the top of the third at 4H Cowser Field. Barnes would only go as far as third base in the inning, but the Angels went on to win 9-1.

Three of the first four Athletics hitters earned walks in the fourth, loading the bases. Evan Byers was one of the three to walk, but during his at-bat he hit a deep fly ball to left field that could have easily driven in the two runners ahead of him, instead it drifted foul.

“I didn’t know if it was going to go fair or foul and I just ran,” Byers said.

Cherveny paid Coffey a mound visit after he loaded the bases, but it didn’t have the effect he’d hoped for. Athletics shortstop Cody Flitcraft came to the plate next and drove in Brady Clements. Cherveny then made a pitching change and brought Retter in to replace Coffey. Retter did the job, retiring the next two batters to end the inning.

The Angels added one more run in the fifth in the same fashion they scored their previous three – a steal of home by left fielder Corban Heston. Time ran out on the game before the Athletics could bat again.

Angel pitcher Damien Coffey guns a pitch to the plate in the bottom of the third against the Athletics. Coffey had seven strikeouts in four innings and only allowed one run as the Angels won 9-1 Wednesday at 4-H Cowser Field.

Cherveny said the key to his team’s victory was remaining focused, something it worked on after a pregame pep talk.

“They weren’t looking sharp like they’re supposed to in warm ups,” Cherveny said. “They just weren’t focused yet and so I just called them all in and said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get this together and play ball right now.'”

When he spoke to his team after the game, Cherveny gave the game ball to Coffey for his performance on the mound. Coffey said it felt great to receive the honor.

On the other side, Athletics coach Mark Howell complimented the pitching of Hughes and the defense of Bonham. He said the Athletics’ final at bat was a positive they could take away from the game.

“We made a nice comeback at the end in our last at bat,” he said.