The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate baseball team got back to its winning ways last weekend, sweeping its doubleheader with the Centauri Falcons.
The Pirates traveled to La Jara on Saturday, April 25, for back-to-back games against the Falcons after losing four straight.
They won both games, the first 6-5 and the second 17-11.
The Pirates now sit at 10-7 and are ranked No. 20 in 3A with six games left in the regular season.
The first game was a close game, but the Pirates did just enough to win the game, noted coach Jon Wells.
“We played a really good first game,” Wells said. “We had great pitching from Taylor [Wells]. Zach [Pouyer] came in and closed the last inning. Our bats weren’t quite there yet, but we got hits when we needed them. We’re able to score enough runs.”
After three innings the Falcons held a 2-0 lead, but the Pirates were able to tie up the game in the fourth. Centauri added one more in the fourth to retake the lead, but the Pirates took their first lead of the game with four runs in the fifth.
The Falcons cut the deficit to one with two runs in the fifth, but the Pirates shut them out the rest of the way and took the win.
Pouyer had a hit and a run; Taylor Wells had a hit and a run; Aaron Sowle had a hit and an RBI; Kasen Limebrook had a hit, a run and two RBIs; and Angelo Medina had a hit, a run and two RBIs.
Taylor Wells gave up five runs (three earned) on four hits in his six innings on the mound. He also struck out seven and walked four batters. Pouyer came in for the final inning and gave up two hits and no runs to close the game out.
In the second game, the bats started to heat up a little more, emphasized Jon Wells.
“It was a great hitting game,” he said. “I was most excited for Aaron, who’s our catcher, because he really opened the game up.”
Sowle hit a two-out grand slam that opened up a 12-run second inning for the Pirates. He finished with two hits, four RBIs and a run in the game.
Three other Pirates had a multihit games: Sebastian Gonzalez finished the game with four hits, three RBIs and two runs; Pouyer had two hits, three RBIs and two runs; and Medina had two hits, two RBIs and a run.
Jonathan Moncada had a hit, two RBIs and two runs in the game; Limebrook had a hit and a run; and Hudson Davis had a hit and three runs.
Braylon Landry started the game on the mound for the Pirates, giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits in his three and two-thirds innings of work. He also walked three and struck out three.
Kaeden Iguchi threw three and one-third innings in relief and gave up seven runs (four earned) on four hits. He walked five and struck out three batters.
“I think the boys went in with a little bit more confidence,” said Jon Wells. “And, more than anything, I think they went in with the determination to win both of them. They knew they kind of had to for playoff purposes.”
With six games left, the Pirates will be in the playoffs, but know they need to continue to win games to solidify their spot in the postseason, noted Jon Wells.
The Pirates also traveled to Durango on Wednesday, April 29, to take on the Demons — who are 12-5 and are the No. 4 ranked 4A team — for a double-header.
Results of that doubleheader were not available by press time Wednesday and will be included in the May 7 issue of The SUN.
“I want the boys to play hard, stay focused, stay positive, and really just compete with Durango,” said Jon Wells ahead of Wednesday’s games. “I think that would be kind of a huge step for them as far as confidence and stuff, if they can compete and hang with a team of that caliber for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.”
Next up, the Pirates will travel to Bayfield for a doubleheader against the rival Wolverines, who are 6-12, on Saturday, May 2, beginning at 11 a.m.
The Wolverines are the No. 33 team in 3A baseball.
jsellner@orourkemediagroup.com
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