Pirates state runs ends at Quarterfinals

  • Pirates state runs ends at Quarterfinals
    Pirates state runs ends at Quarterfinals
  • Izeyah Manzanares,24, of the GHS Pirates baseball team slides safely into 2nd base. Franklin Romero - CC
    Izeyah Manzanares,24, of the GHS Pirates baseball team slides safely into 2nd base. Franklin Romero - CC
  • Outfielder Boudy Melonas,1, tags the home plate to score a run at the quarter finals of the 4A state baseball tournament as an eager teammate cheers him on. Franklin Romero - CC
    Outfielder Boudy Melonas,1, tags the home plate to score a run at the quarter finals of the 4A state baseball tournament as an eager teammate cheers him on. Franklin Romero - CC
  • Senior Nick Bustos,12, with a hit at the Nusenda Credit Union 2023 4A state baseball quarter final game agains the Academy Chargers (18-11, 6-2). Despite opportunites the Chargers bested the Pirates 7-5 to end the Pirates 2023 state tournament run. The Pirates finish thier season 23--6, 8-0. The Charges were the eventual runnerup in the state tournament. Franklin Romero - CC
    Senior Nick Bustos,12, with a hit at the Nusenda Credit Union 2023 4A state baseball quarter final game agains the Academy Chargers (18-11, 6-2). Despite opportunites the Chargers bested the Pirates 7-5 to end the Pirates 2023 state tournament run. The Pirates finish thier season 23--6, 8-0. The Charges were the eventual runnerup in the state tournament. Franklin Romero - CC
  • Izeyah Manzanares,24, of the GHS baseball team catches a base thief at first base for an out this past Thursday, in the quarter finals of the 4A state baseball tournament. The Pirates lost to the Abuquerque Charges by a score of 7-5 Franklin Romero - CC
    Izeyah Manzanares,24, of the GHS baseball team catches a base thief at first base for an out this past Thursday, in the quarter finals of the 4A state baseball tournament. The Pirates lost to the Abuquerque Charges by a score of 7-5 Franklin Romero - CC

The Pirates’ notable 2023 baseball season came to a windy and dusty end this past Saturday with a 75 loss at the Albuquerque Baseball Complex at the bats and gloves of the Academy Chargers (18-11, 6-2), in the quarter finals of the 4A state baseball tournament this past Thursday, May 11.

“Obviously that was not the ending we wanted,” said GHS head baseball coach Mike Furbee.

The Pirates down 7-2 at the bottom of the seventh inning mustered three runs to make the score 7-5. With bases loaded and two outs senior Andres Lopez hit towards the Charger first baseman who scooped it up and high tailed it to the first place bag for an out—the third out–that was it–the game and the 2023 season ended.

“We left 11 on base and eight in scoring position–we just couldn’t get the hits we needed,” said GHS baseball head coach Mike Furbee. “We knew going in that Delany (Matthew Delany-Academy pitcher) would be the best pitcher we would face and just needed to get his pitch count up and get him out of the game—unfortunately we were down five when that happened in the seventh.”

Niko Young pitched five innings allowing nine hits, four runs, two earned runs, zero walks and had eight strikeouts. Dominick Gonzales pitched two innings allowing four hits, two urs, one earned run, zero walks and three strikeouts.

Dominick Gonzales had one RBI, three hits, one run and four at-bats, Nick Bustos had one RBI, one hit and three at-bats, Andres Lopez had one run, one hit, and four at-bats, Izeyah Manzanares had one hit, one run, and three at-bats.

For the Academy Charges, standout pitcher Matthew Delaney pitched six innings allowing five hits, two runs, one earned run, two walks and 10 strikeouts.

The Pirates ended their season with a 23-6,8-0 record.

“Overall, it was a great season—-with expectation comes pressure and this definitely was a step forward in our growth process,” said Furbee as he reflected on the season. “I think a lot of people will be looking forward to the 2024 season including the players—we have a good group returning and will be back next year trying to finish the job–we are one!”

The Pirates will lose five seniors this year; first baseman Gabriel Marquez, catcher Andrez Lopez, third baseman Caleb McDougle, outfielder Jessie Nieto and outfielder Nick Bustos.

CIBOLA COUNTY SPORTS ROUND-UP

The GHS Pirate tennis teams wrapped up the state tennis tournament a couple of weeks ago with the following results: On May third Annaliesa Lowther in singles competition defeated Kaitlyn Jordan of Silver City High School 6-4, 6-0 in the first round. Lowther in a later match that day was defeated by Tatiana Dalton-Spilca of St. Pius High School 6-0, 6-0.

In girls’ doubles matches, in the first match of the state tournament senior Chloe Rychener and fellow senior Kylette Garcia defeated Maggie Duong and Jenna Brown of Portales High School 6-1, 6-2. In their second match they were defeated 6-4, 6-3 by Olivia Suazo and Jennifer Gallegos of Espanola Valley High School. The lady Pirates ended their tennis season 8-1, 6-0.

In boys’ doubles play, Juan Tena and Joshuah Sousa were defeated by Drew Honegger and Josh Simon of Albuquerque Academy High School by a score of 6-2, 6-4. The GHS boy’s tennis team ended their season 2-7, 2-4.

The Grants High School track and field team qualifiers participated at the 4A state track meet this past weekend in Albuquerque. Laila Martinez placed first in 800-meter run with a time of 2:19.38, second in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:12.64 and third in the 3200-meter run with a time of 11:46.94.

Hawks

The eighth seeded Laguna- Acoma lady Hawks softball team were defeated in the first round of the state 2A softball tournament after a 14-1 loss to the ninth seeded Lordsburg Mavericks (12-15, 3-9) on Wednesday, May 10.

The Laguna-Acoma track and field team qualifiers participated at the 2A state track and field meet on May 6 and here are the results: Tagoya Pedro placed first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:01.71 while teammate Lucas Williams placed second with a time of 2:04.52. Pedro placed first in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:43.25, and teammate Williams placed second with a time of 4:44.86. In the 3200-meter Pedro placed first with a time of 10:19.96 and Williams once again placed second with a time of 10:26.10. Lady Hawk Tayla Vicente placed fifth in the 1600-meters with a time of 6:10.51 and fourth in the 200-meter run with a time of 13:25.50.