Prep baseball: Clovis High coach James Patrick still seeking 600th win

Career win No. 600 awaits for Clovis High baseball coach James Patrick after his fourth-ranked Cougars failed to secure a five-run lead through five innings Saturday and lost 7-5 at home to No. 9 Frontier in the final day of the Central California Showcase.

Patrick, 599-209-2 in 28 seasons at Memorial (two) and Clovis (26), will try next at home Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Clovis East to begin Tri-River Athletic Conference play.

Frontier (6-2-1) of the Southwest Yosemite League received a triple, two singles and four RBIs from junior outfielder Brooks Douglas, and scored three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to overcome the Cougars (8-3). Douglas’ two-run triple broke a 5-5 tie.

Clovis, which loaded the bases but didn’t score in the bottom of the seventh, had established command behind Allen Crowley (two RBIs), McKay France (double, RBI) and R.J. Hartmann (double, RBI).

The Fresno Bee