The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate baseball team was swept in its doubleheader against Montezuma-Cortez, losing their third and fourth games in a row.
The Pirates hosted the No. 5 Panthers on Saturday, April 18, for back-to-back games. Pagosa Springs lost the first game 11-1 and the second game 15-1.
“We just didn’t hit again,” said coach Jon Wells. “I think we hit .136 over the two games [and] struck out 17 times. And when we do that, we’re not going to beat good teams.”
The Pirates scored just two runs in two games a week after scoring just two runs total in their doubleheader against Alamosa.
In the first game, the Pirates had just one hit and committed three errors.
They scored their lone run early and, after three innings, the score was 2-1.
The Panthers were able to break it open with two in the fourth, four in the fifth and three in seventh, all while holding the Pirates scoreless.
Zach Pouyer had the Pirates lone hit, finishing the game 1-for-2. Dylan Dempster scored the team’s only run after reaching on error. Kaeden Iguchi drove Dempster in, finishing with the Pirates’ one RBI.
Taylor Wells started for the Pirates, giving up eight runs (three earned) on seven hits while walking five and striking out three. In relief, Sebastian Gonzalez and Jonathan Moncada combined to give up three runs (zero earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out one.
The Pirates finished with five hits and committed two errors in game two.
Going into the home half of the third the Pirates were down 5-0, but scored a run to cut the deficit to four.
That would be the last run they would score, and the Panthers tacked on one in the fourth, two in the fifth and seven in the sixth.
Kasen Limebrook finished the game 2-for-3, Taylor Wells went 1-for-3 with a double, Gonzalez went 1-for-3 and Moncada went 1-for-3.
Pouyer scored the team’s only run. He was driven in by Aaron Sowle.
Iguchi started on the mound, giving up eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits while walking four and striking out two in five innings. In relief, Moncada and Braylon Landry allowed seven earned runs on four hits combined, walking three.
“I think the boys are probably just putting too much pressure on themselves,” said Jon Wells. “They felt as though coming into Alamosa and Cortez, two good teams that have been winning games and stuff, that they are trying to do too much at the plate.”
Jon Wells explained he feels that even though the pitchers were able to compete in three- to four-inning stretches, they still aren’t where they need to be in terms of throwing strikes.
“I think we were at 56 percent strikes, but what still is troublesome is that we had 14 walks, five hit by pitches,” said Jon Wells. “So, we put 19 free base runners on the bases. And then I think from those 14 walks, eight of them ended up scoring.”
This weekend, the Pirates will head to Centauri for another doubleheader on Saturday, April 25 beginning at 11 a.m.
The Falcons are 8-4 and ranked 27th in 3A.
The Pirates, who are now 8-7, are ranked 26th.
Jon Wells indicated he has talked a lot about the three areas — pitching, defense and hitting — with his team and emphasized that, without all three, it is very hard to win baseball games.
“Centauri is a good team as well, and we’re going to need all three areas to be successful in order to win both those games,” he said. “And I do think we can win both those games, but it’s just a matter of if the boys come out and execute.”
jsellner@orourkemediagroup.com
>