The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate baseball team built a four-game win streak over the last week, outscoring its opponent 61-13 in the four games.
The Pirates picked up two wins against the Centauri Falcons on Saturday, April 20, in La Jara before notching two more wins against 2A Del Norte Tuesday at home.
“It’s was a good weekend and good start to the week this week,” coach Ben Garcia said, adding the team’s work on limiting errors, increasing its ability to get on base and hitting have “really paid dividends.”
The Pirates picked up a 15-4 win against the Falcons in the first half of the day’s doubleheader, with the team scoring four in the first, two in the second, four in the third and five in the fifth.
The Falcons brought around one run in the third and three in the fourth.
The Pirates had 15 hits in the game.
Pagosa won the second half of the doubleheader 14-2, picking up another 12 hits in the game.
The Pirates brought around three in the first, two in the second, four in the fourth, one in the fifth and four in the sixth.
Centauri’s runs came in the second and fifth innings.
Zach Pouyer, Riley Laugel and Chris Martinez each had four hits on the day. Pouyer, who had a double, also scored two runs and drew a walk. Laugel, who hit a homer, also scored three runs and tallied three RBIs in addition to drawing three walks. Martinez, who had a double and two triples, also scored five runs and had two RBIs.
Jaden Tuggle-Reed had three hits, including a double and a triple, and scored two runs. He also walked once.
Hunter Pouyer had three hits (including a double), scored four runs and had two RBIs. He also reached on an error and was hit by pitch twice.
Cooper Ralston also had three hits, as well as scoring two runs and logging five RBIs. He also drew a walk.
Garcia noted Ralston had “a really good day.”
Dylan Dempster had three hits, including a double, scored a run and had three RBIs.
Kyler Henderson had a hit, drew a walk, was hit by a pitch, tallied two RBIs and scored three runs.
Ty Richey had one hit and scored two runs in addition to drawing a walk.
Brodie Norton had one hit — a triple.
The Pirates stole 12 bases during the doubleheader.
Garcia noted the team also went into the day with a different game plan for pitching due to pitch-count rules and mandatory rest days for pitchers, explaining starting pitchers were limited to 80 pitches before a reliever was brought in.
Laugel pitched a complete game in the first game with 67 pitches, allowing two runs and four hits in five innings while walking one and striking out six.
“Riley just absolutely threw a great game,” Garcia said. “He had a no-hitter going into I think the top of the fourth against Centauri.”
Garcia also highlighted Laugel’s effort on the day, pointing to his hits, home run and double.
Ralston and Martinez pitched the second game, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and six walks while striking out five.
The Pirates committed one error in each game, with the Falcons logging five in the first game and three in the second.
The Pirates picked up where they left off on Tuesday when they welcomed the Del Norte Tigers to town.
The Pirates won the first half of the doubleheader 14-4, scoring one in the first, two in the second, seven in the third, two in the fourth and two in the fifth.
The Tigers brought two runs around in the second, one in the third and one in the fourth.
Garcia indicated the Tigers’ early runs were predicated on some Pirate errors and misplays, but that the team continued to hit the ball, which was a “huge positive.”
The Pirates had 13 hits in the game.
The winning streak continued in the second game, with the Pirates claiming an 18-3 victory.
Pagosa broke out for nine runs in the first inning, three in the second and six in the third.
The Tigers scored three in the top of the fourth — the game’s final half inning.
Pagosa had 17 hits in the game.
Zach Pouyer had six hits on the day, which included three doubles in the first game. He also scored six runs, had four RBIs and was hit by a pitch.
Henderson had five hits, including three doubles, scored four runs and had three RBIs.
Hunter Pouyer had four hits, including a home run, a double and a triple. He also scored three runs and had four RBIs.
Martinez had four hits, scored three runs, logged five RBIs and walked once.
Tuggle-Reed had three hits, including a triple, three runs scored and one RBI.
Ralston had two hits — both doubles — scored two runs, walked once and had one RBI.
Laugel had two hits, drew four walks, scored five times and logged one RBI.
Kaeden Iguchi had two hits.
Norton had one hit and two RBIs.
Dempster had one hit and two RBIs.
Peyton Bishop drew one walk and scored one run, and Devan Montoya scored two runs.
The Pirates stole 16 bases during the doubleheader.
Laugel and Charles Washburn pitched game one for the Pirates, allowing four runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out 10.
Garcia noted that Laugel again pitched well.
Ralston and Martinez pitched in game two, combining to allow three runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out three.
The Pirates committed eight errors on the day, while the Tigers committed 14.
Garcia stated the Pirates came out and hit the ball “really well,” noting the Tiger pitcher in game one entered the game with an ERA of about 1.60.
“That’s huge,” he said, noting the Pirates put the pressure on the Tigers and were able to relax.
Garcia also said the team’s baserunning was “outstanding,” with the team stealing bases and showing good instincts.
They were also able to push the Tiger defense back, which allowed them to turn base hits into doubles.
“The kids made the adjustments,” he said.
Garcia indicated the team has worked on its weaknesses, with good results.
Having Henderson gave the Pirates one more good hitter as DH, helping to solidify a solid lineup of nine hitters, the coach noted.
He also stated that Norton and Richey have alternated at first base and done a good job.
“They’re just doing everything right,” he said.
He added the team is dong well running the bases and is hitting the ball well, but now needs to shore up its defense.
He noted that communication will take care of a lot, and the Pirates have been taking a lot of ground balls in practice.
With the wins, the Pirates are now 8-8 on the season and 2-2 in league play.
They sit as the No. 32 team in the 3A Selection and Seeding Index.
On Saturday, the Pirates will face the Bayfield Wolverines for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
The Wolverines are 3-1 in league play and 6-11 overall.
They are the No. 39 team in the Selection and Seeding Index.
“That’s a big, big series for us,” Garcia said, adding wins would give the Pirates a chance to move up in the league standings and help secure a better seed at the end of the season.
The Pirates are currently third in the league, while Bayfield is second.
The keys to continuing to play well, Garcia indicated, will be to “go out, play really good baseball early” to relax the team, have the pitchers ready to go and for the Pirates to control what they can.
randi@pagosasun.com
