Pirates defeat Sartans 10-9

A blustery but sunny day speckled with distant baseball chants that faded in and out with the wind at St. Pius High School was the backdrop for one of the best baseball games of the season for the Grants High School Pirates as they came into St. Pius ranked third in District 5A with a 12-5, 1-0 record while the Sartans were ranked one in the district with a 12-2 record. When the bats were put away the Pirates walked away with a 10-9 win and were the new leaders of their district.

The Pirates trailed 6-4 after two innings and at the end of the fourth inning, the Pirates trailed 85. The Pirates scored three runs in the fifth inning to tie it up 8-8. In the sixth inning the Pirates climbed up to a 9-8 lead. Then in the crucial seventh inning, both teams scored a run to give the Pirates a final score of 10-9.

The Pirates had 10 runs, 10 hits, and two errors in that game compared to St. Pius who had nine runs, and eight hits, with two errors.

Estevan Barela pitched six innings allowing seven hits, three earned runs and four strikeouts.

Dominick Gonzales pitched one inning, allowing for one hit, one earned run and two strikeouts.

St. Pius had been on a five-game winning streak prior to the Pirates defeat. They are currently in second place in the district with a 12-3, 1-1 record.

Izeyah Manzanares went 2-4 RBIs and Dominick Gonzales had 2 – 5 RBIs.

The Pirates played Bloomfield High School on April 1st and defeated them in both games 10-0 and 10-0.

“This was a big three games in two-day span to see where we are,” said Coach Furbee. “We will still have some things to figure out, we have a big piece of the lineup returning from injury next week,” said coach Furbee. Nick Bustos has been on the injured list.

Next up for the Pirates will be with Highland High School (1-11, 0-1) in an away game on Friday, April 4. Belen is third in the district with a 13-4, 11 record.

The GHS softball team is currently 1-11, 0-2.