The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate baseball team returned to action on Wednesday, April 2, following spring break.
While the team was not originally scheduled to return to action until April 8, coach Ben Garcia noted that the team was able to add a game against the 2A Trinidad Miners.
“We had all those games canceled early on,” Garcia said, noting there has been an attempt to see if the school could arrange more games for the team.
That, he indicated, has been “kind of crazy.”
On Monday, Trinidad was available, but no neutral field was available for the teams to meet at. On Tuesday, no officials were available.
The team was finally able to play in Monte Vista Wednesday afternoon.
“Monte Vista really helped us out,” Garcia said.
The Pirates entered the game with a 3-0 record, with the Miners owning an 0-1 record.
Garcia explained Tuesday he was hoping the team would respond well after not having played since March 18.
“I’m hoping that we are able to respond better than we did last year,” he said, adding the team was sluggish after the break last year and was not prepared.
The emphasis heading into the break, he indicated, was to come back better than when they left if possible.
“I think we were doing some really good things prior to the break,” the coach said. “So, I’m excited to see how we come out.”
While several of the team’s varsity players were gone for all of break, Garcia indicated, 12-15 players continued to work locally at open practices.
He added he’s interested in seeing what some of the freshmen who were at practices over break can do.
“I’m really excited to see some of our freshmen that have, you know, responded and look pretty good,” he said, adding they’ll be given an opportunity. “It’s a great time to see what they can do, and it only makes us deeper if they’re capable.”
He added he hopes to see them catch the balls hit to them, make routine plays, swing the bat and be aggressive at the plate within reason.
“They’ve been doing a good job of that,” he said, adding that, more than anything, he’s excited for the team to play.
Results of the matchup were not available by press time Wednesday and will be included in the April 10 issue of The SUN.
Following the game against the Miners, the Pirates will travel to Sanford on Tuesday, April 8, to face the 20 Mustangs beginning at 3 p.m.
The Mustangs held a 2-1 record heading into a Wednesday doubleheader against the Centauri Falcons.
Garcia noted Sanford is “always a very good team” and is athletic in all sports.
He added the game will be another good test as the team gets back in the swing of things.
In each of the games, the coach noted, the Pirates will be playing against themselves and working to continue getting better.
They’ll also be looking to see who the team’s No. 2 and No. 3 starters are behind Cooper Ralston.
randi@pagosasun.com
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