The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate baseball team picked up four more wins over the last week, moving the team to a 7-0 record.
The Pirates scored 67 runs over the course of the games while holding their opponents to four.
“The long break has only strengthened us,” coach Ben Garcia said, giving credit to the team’s members who attended optional practices and who dedicated time to the sport over spring break. “What we wanted to do was make sure that when we prepared, that we were able to prepare in the right way. ... They really tried to emphasize the right swings that we’ve been talking about, and it showed.”
The Pirates returned to action after spring break with an April 2 doubleheader against the Trinidad Miners in Monte Vista.
Garcia explained Trinidad had three players miss the bus, so the teams ultimately decided to play two shortened, five-inning games.
“It worked out really well,” he said. “We played very well against them.”
The Pirates won the first game 12-2.
The Miners scored first in the matchup, bringing one around in the top of the first. The Pirates, however, countered with one in the first, one in the second, eight in the third and two in the fourth. The Miners picked up their second run in the fifth.
Pagosa’s 12 runs came on 12 hits, with Trinidad’s two runs coming on one hit.
The Miners committed one error, with Pagosa logging three.
The Pirates’ hits included a pair of home runs.
Cooper Ralston hit a homer, scoring a run, and notched three RBIs.
Chris Young-Martinez picked up a triple and a homer in addition to drawing a walk, scoring three runs and tallying three RBIs.
Charles Washburn went 3-for-3 in the game, hitting a double and a triple, scoring two runs and picking up two RBIs.
Taylor Wells picked up two hits in the game, including a double, scored a run and logged an RBI.
Sebastian Gonzalez and Sean Ryan each had one hit in the game and scored a run. Ty Richie hit a double and picked up an RBI.
Kaeden Iguchi, who drew a walk, scored a run. Kyler Henderson also drew a walk.
Noah Bellina scored a run.
Four Pirates picked up stolen bases: Gonzalez, Bellina, Angelo Medina and Young-Martinez.
Pitching for the Pirates, Ralston allowed one hit, two runs (one earned) and walked four while striking out 11 over four innings.
Wells pitched in relief, striking out two in one inning of work.
The second game lasted only four innings after the Pirates held the Miners scoreless while putting up 17 runs.
The Pirates brought around six runs in the first, four in the second and seven in the third.
Pagosa’s runs came on 13 hits, with Trinidad committing six errors. The Pirates committed zero errors.
A trio of Pirates had a two-hit day: Young-Martinez, Ryan and Ralston. Young-Martinez’s hits were both doubles, and he also scored two runs and walked once. Ryan hit a double and walked once, scored two runs and notched two RBIs. Ralston also knocked a double, scored two runs, stole a base and logged two RBIs.
Six Pirates had one hit in the game.
Gonzalez knocked a double, drew a walk, reached on an error, stole a base, scored two runs and had two RBIs. Iguchi logged a hit, a run and an RBI. Wells hit a double, drew a walk, scored two runs, knocked one in and stole three bases. Richie hit a double, was hit by a pitch, scored two runs and had an RBI. Henderson had a hit, walked, and had an RBI. Washburn had a hit and an RBI.
Dylan Dempster drew a walk, and Bellina scored a run. Medina, who reached on an error, logged an RBI.
Washburn threw four innings for the Pirates in the win, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out nine.
Garcia noted the team started the process of hitting against Trinidad.
“Everything that we have done from a batting standpoint to correct the bottom of our lineup has really worked,” he said. “I mean, they came through very, very well, so it was good to see that everybody, one through nine, was a threat. And, that helped us immensely.”
Garcia also highlighted the Pirate pitching and defense.
“We did put a total game together, he said.
On Tuesday, the team traveled to Sanford to face the Mustangs in a doubleheader.
Garcia noted the team works to play against itself and get better every game, and he felt the games against Sanford “showed that immensely.”
The Pirates made quick work of the Mustangs in game one, breaking out for 12 runs in the first, 10 runs in the second and three in the third to win 25-0.
Garcia explained you never know how things will turn out after a 2.5-hour bus ride and having to play immediately after getting out, but the Pirates responded well with 12 runs in the first inning.
“They were not errors; they were balls that were ... really hit hard,” he said. “And we just really did some good things throughout the lineup.”
He added the Pirates’ bats were on fire in the game, and it was the best he’s seen them play.
The Pirates picked up 17 hits in the game, with Sanford logging 13 errors.
Garcia highlighted Young-Martinez, who went 4-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, four runs scored and a stolen base.
Iguchi and Wells each had a three-hit game, with Wells knocking a three-run homer as well as a double and walking twice. He finished the game with four runs scored, four stolen bases and five RBIs. Iguchi scored three runs and notched a trio of RBIs.
Richie had a triple, reach on an error twice, scored two runs and notched two RBIs. Washburn had a hit, a run scored and two RBIs, and reached on an error. Ryan had a hit, walked, reached on an error, scored two runs and logged an RBI. Gonzalez and Ralston each picked up a hit and a run scored, with Ralston also reaching after being hit by pitch and on an error.
Chance Ramirez scored a run, and Medina scored three runs and stole two bases. Henderson walked twice. Deaglan Denen reached after being hit by a pitch. Dempster reached on an error.
Ralston took the mound for the Pirates, throwing a perfect game and striking out eight.
“Coop probably threw his best game,” Garcia said. “Sanford’s not a bad team, they’re really not. They’ve played some good competition, and next to Monte Vista, they’re the best team we’ve played so far.”
He added Ralston was “absolutely in control of his command.”
The Pirates picked up their second win of the day against Sanford in 13-2 fashion.
Pagosa scored two in the first, three in the second, four in the third, three in the fourth and one in the fifth. The Mustangs brought two around in the third.
Pagosa’s runs came around on 14 hits and three Sanford errors. Pagosa committed one error.
Henderson knocked three hits in the game, which included a double, and notched two RBIs.
Wells picked up two hits, including a double, and scored two runs.
Zach Pouyer knocked two hits, reached on an error, scored two runs and picked up two RBIs. Young-Martinez had two doubles, scored a run and tallied three RBIs.
Gonzales had a hit, a walk, a run scored and an RBI. Iguchi had a hit, two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. Ralston knocked a double, walked, reached on an error and scored two runs.
Ramirez and Medina each scored a run. Richie reached on an error, and Washburn drew a walk.
The Pirates had eight stolen bases: three by Pouyer, three by Medina, and one each by Wells and Ralston.
Young-Martinez, Washburn and Wells took the mound in the game, combining to allow five hits, two runs and one walk while striking out eight.
“They set the table very well yesterday, Garcia said of the Pirate hitting against Sanford, adding later he was pleased with both the offense and defense and the Pirates “looked like a very quality league play.”
Garcia also noted it was nice for the team to play in sunshine instead of wind and rain.
“It was fun,” he said.
This week, the Pirates will open league play with a Saturday doubleheader in Alamosa beginning at 11 a.m.
On Tuesday afternoon, April 15, beginning at 3 p.m., the Pirates will host their first home games of the season against the 4A Durango Demons.
Garcia indicated getting back into a pattern of playing on Saturdays and Tuesdays will give the team better continuity, and noted the team is approaching it as if every team the Pirates will face is probably better than the last, calling Alamosa a formidable opponent and noting Durango is very good.
“So, every game we play, we’re gonna have to bring our best game to be able to do what we’re doing, but I’m pretty confident and excited to see how they perform,” he said, also highlighting the team’s depth.
He added he hopes people will watch the team during Tuesday’s home games.
randi@pagosasun.com
>