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Number 2 Pirates Hosting Number 1 Sartans -
Baseball battle! Number two ranked Pirates to take on number one ranked St. Pius at home on Tuesday, April 18. In this file photo, first baseman Gabriel Marquez, 8, of the Grants Pirates Baseball team nabs a quick out against St. Pius Sartans at a recent game in Albuquerque. The Pirates won that contest by a score of 10-9 on March 31. Franklin Romero - CC
Big-bats-be-just-aswinging! The Grants High School Pirates Baseball Team with a solid,185, 5-0 record, are ranked second in the state in 4A and will battle for bragging rights with the number one ranked team in 4-A and district rival, the St. Pius Sartans (15-4, 32), on Tuesday, April 18 at home.
“We know Pius is a tough squad and will have to be at our best to come out on top,” said Mike Furbee, GHS head baseball coach. “We have worked hard in preparation for this and look forward to the challenge.” The Pirates previously defeated the Sartans on March 31 at St. Pius by a score of 10-9.
It’s no coincidence the Pirates are also number one in their district (5-4A) with St. Pius in second place followed by Belen High School with a 15-6 and 2-3. Belen is also ranked third in the state in 4A baseball.
The Pirates are just fresh off a district road win against the Valencia Jaguars (8-14, 2-3) whom they defeated on Friday, April 14 in an away game by a score of 6-0.
“I feel we played our best defensive game of the season behind Nico Young who had another great performance on the mound,” said Furbee of the Valencia game. “On the offensive side, we kind of got away from the plate discipline and had more strikeouts then we would like and left some runners on base.”
Young pitched six innings, allowed five hits, one walk and had five strikeouts. Dominick Gonzales pitched one inning and had two strikeouts.
Young also had two RBIs, one hit, and three at bats. Eric Barela had one RBI, two runs, one hit and three at bats. Boudy Melonas had one RBI, one run, two hits, and four at bats. Andes Lopez had one RBI, one run, two hits, and three at bats. Izeyah Manzanares had one RBI and three at bats.
“We are in a good spot in district with three games left,” said Furbee when asked how he felt the team was at this point in the season.
The Lady Pirates softball team is currently 514, 1-4 after a couple of recent losses. The Lady Pirates lost to Valencia High School (6-1, 4-1) in a district game on April 13 by a score of 13-7 on the road. On April 15 they lost both games of a home double-header to an undefeated Santa Fe Indian School (15-0- 6-0) by a score of 19-3 and 180. Next home game for the Lady Pirates is on Thursday, April 20 against Highland High School (020,0-4).
CIBOLA COUNTY SPORTS ROUND-UP
The GHS tennis teams recently competed at Valencia High School on April 12. The Lady Pirates (7-1, 5-0) defeated Valencia 9-0. Number one in singles, Kylette Garcia, defeated Jennifer Shaefer 6-3, 6-0. Number two in singles, Ava Elycio defeated Kylee Sandoval 64, 4-6 and 6-0. In doubles, Chloe Rychner and Kylette Garcia defeated Jennifer Shaefer and Ava Elycio 6-2, 6-1. The Lady Pirates are 3rd in district 5-4A.
The boys’ tennis team lost 6-1 with Anthony Maestas defeating Gabriel Ronquillo 6-0,6-1 in his match.
The Laguna-Acoma baseball team is 7-4, 2-0 and they will play their next game on Wednesday, April 18 against district rival the Rehoboth Lynx (10-5, 2-0). The Lady Hawks softball team is 46, 2-0 and on a threegame winning streak. They will play Zuni High School 7-4, 3-1 in a nondistrict game on Tax Day, April 18 at home.