Pirates Clip Eagles Wings in 9

A colossal baseball game last Friday as the Pirates went 9 innings and bested the 4th ranked Belen Eagles by a score of 7-6. A single by junior Boudy Melonas to center field allowed teammate Niko Young to score the winning run securing the 8th “W” in a row for the Pirates and a second place ranking in 4-A baseball.

“It felt like it was a big win and gives us control at this point,” said GHS head baseball coach Mike Furbee. A big win it was as it propels the Pirates into a solid 2nd place in the state ranking just behind the number 1 ranked team, the Goddard Rockets (12-5, 0-0).

“A bunch of guys stepped up at different points of the game,” said Furbee. “We were prepared with all our starting pitchers being available and our plan was to use all of them if necessary–it was definitely necessary.”

Opener for the Pirates, Estevan Barela, pitched 3 innings and allowed 4 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 1 earned run and 2 strikeouts. Senior, Izeyah Manzanares pitched 5 innings where he allowed 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 2 earned runs and 3 strikeouts. Junior Niko Young pitched the last inning and allowed 1 walk.

The Pirates had 38 atbats with 14 hits, 7 RBI’s, 4 walks and 7 strikeouts. Domonick Gonzales had 2 RBI’s followed by 5 players who had 1 RBI apiece.

Next up for the Pirates the Valencia Jaguars (812,1-2), in another district game.

“They (Valencia) will be a challenge–again we have to continue to take things one game at a time,” said Furbee of that game.

CIBOLA COUNTY SPORTS-ROUND UP

The GHS lady Pirates softball team is currently 4-15, 1-3 after a recent non district win over Thoureau. “We knew we’d get the win–we just had to come in and play our game,” said GHS head softball coach Victor Aldaz. “We had no errors and recorded 14 hits.

In that game Olivia Toivanen, a sophomore, went 3 for 3 with 5 RBI’s 1 single, 1 double and a triple.

Next up for the lady Pirates is a district game against the lady Jags of Valencia (3-13, 2-1) on Thursday, April 18th at home.

“I believe we can get the win–in the last match up we lost due to errors in the 7th inning,” said Aldaz. “We believe we can beat them if we stay focused.”

The lady Pirates tennis team, currently 7-3, 20, went

6-3 over district rival, the Highland Hornets (56,1-3).

Number 1 Alexia Munson defeated Alexa Morales 6-0, 6-0. Number 2 Abriyah Urioste defeated Arely Martinez 6-3, 6-0 Number 3 Kylee Sandoval was defeated by Naomi Yazdzick 7-5, 6-2.

In doubles play Alexia Munson and Abriya Urioste defeated Alexa Morales and Arely Martinez 6-3, 6-2.

The GHS boys tennis team is currently 2-8, 0-3 after a 7-2 loss to Highland High School. Number 1 Isaiah Tena defeated Galan Yane 6-1, 6-0. The GHS track team recently participated at the Angelo DePaulo Invitational track meet at Miyamura High School. The lady Pirates placed 2nd out of 16 teams with a score of 102. Notables for the Pirates were Laila Martinez placed 1st in the 400 meters with a time of 1:03.35.

Martinez also placed 3rd in the 1600 meters with a time of 5:48.87. Promise Garcia placed 1st in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 19:25. In the lady Pirates placed 2nd in the 4x200 relay race 1:59.64. Jenna Gurule placed 3rd in the long jump 14’ .300”. Natalie Merayo placed 1sst in the triple jump with a jump of 27’3.50”. Tori Felipe placed 1st in the discus with a throw of 92’ 7.00’ and placed 2nd in the shot put with a throw of 30’ 2.50”.

GHS boys track notables were

Manuel Gonzales with a 1st place in the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.31 and also placed 1st in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 18.68 as well as a 2nd place in the high jump, 5’ 8”.

Knight Long placed 2nd in the 400 meter dash with a time of 55.14, 2nd in the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.32, 3rd place in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.91and 3rd in the long jump with a jump of 18’3.75”.

The Laguna-Acoma baseball team is 9-4,0-0 and are on a 6 game winning streak. The lady Hawks softball team is currently 8-4, 00 and are on a 3 game winning streak.