In a rematch of last year’s championship game in 4A baseball, the Artesia Wildcats came to Grants to play a double header against the Pirates.
The Pirate lost both games 5-1 in the first game and 12-6 in the second game.
“I’m not concerned so much about the outcome as I am with the process,” said Grants High School Head Baseball Coach Mike Furbee.
“Obviously two losses are not what we were wanting but with everything that we did wrong the positive is that they are simple fixes and we will get them fixed.”
Acknowledging that they “have a target on their back” after taking the state championship in 4A last year Furbee understands that they have “to take everyone's best shot.”
In the first game senior Diego Lopez scored a run and fellow senior Niko Young pitched five innings with nine strikeouts and allowing three hits and two runs.
Ethan Taylor pitched two innings with nine strikeouts while allowing six hits and five runs.
In the second game, Noah Lundstrom had two RBI’s followed by Niko Young and Josiah Marquez with one RBI each. Eric Barela pitched five innings with three strikeouts, allowing 11 hits and nine runs. Ethan Taylor finished up for the Pirates with 0-strikeouts allowing three runs and three hits.
Next up for the Pirates is a double-header with Gallup High School (1-1) on the road on Saturday, March 8th. “We are not taking Gallup lightly,” said Furbee.
Last year the Pirates defeated Gallup 11-0 and 27-0 The Lady Pirates softball team also had their season openers and are 0-2 after losing to Miyamura 13-0 and to Gallup 11-4.