On Friday, March 9, the Battle Mountain High School Longhorn baseball team took the field for the first time this season against the Pershing County Mustangs in Lovelock. The Longhorns would finish the tournament with a 3-1 record before returning home for games in Battle Mountain.
Longhorns vs.
PCHS Mustangs
The set of games started with the Longhorns taking on bitter rival Pershing County High School (PCHS) Mustangs. The Longhorns, batting first as the visiting team, earned the first hit in the game with Mason Fuller reaching on a single. Unfortunately, the Longhorns tried to perform a hit and run but caught with a high fly ball just barely into right field. The Mustangs were able to end the inning on a double play.
The Longhorns did not need to worry after Fuller took the mound first for the Longhorns, striking out the side. The Longhorns bats came alive for Battle Mountain in the bottom half of the second inning, scoring six runs to take a commanding early lead.
BMHS tallied eight hits on the day against Mustang pitchers. Gabe Naveran and Fuller each managed two hits to lead Battle Mountain, while Erik Martinez led the game with three stolen bases. The Longhorns ran wild on the base paths with ten stolen bases during the contest.
The Longhorns would defeat the Mustangs by a final score of 12-1 with Pershing County scoring in the bottom of the fifth and final inning of the game.
Longhorns vs.
Sparks Railroaders
On Friday, March 9, the Longhorns started quickly against the Sparks High School Railroaders with freshman pitcher Jordan Gonzalez getting the start on the mound for Battle Mountain. Allowing only one hit in the inning and striking out two batters, Gonzalez stranded Railroaders on the bases at the end of the inning.
The bottom of the first the Longhorns again jumped out early, batting through the lineup and scoring six runs in the inning. Leading 6-0 the Longhorns struggled in the top half of the second inning with Quinton Defoor allowing a fly ball to right fielder Austin Natoli. The mistake allowed the Railroaders to score three runs in the inning.
Despite allowing the runs, the Longhorns would not hold back, scoring three more runs in the bottom of the second and third innings, bringing the lead to 12-3 over the Railroaders. Due to time constraints, the game was called after the third inning, giving the Longhorns the victory.
“We are feeling pretty good, but we have a little work to do still. The hitting needs to improve, fielding was pretty solid and pitching looks good as well,” stated Longhorns head baseball coach Cory Mills after the Sparks game. “We were able to work some guys in there. That’s the good thing about preseason to see what everybody can do. Overall after the first two games, I am pretty happy.”
Longhorns vs.
Portola Tigers
On Saturday, March 10, the Longhorns faced off with the Portola Tigers, out of California. Each team scored twice in the first inning and each failed to score in the second or third inning. During the top of fourth inning, Longhorn pitcher Naveran gave up four runs. The Longhorns were now in the hole 6-2 going to the bottom of the fourth.
The Longhorns responded in the bottom half of the inning following back-to-back hits by Fuller and Reese Artz. Fuller struck a hard line drive down the third base line scoring Naveran from third base. Artz followed Fuller’s hit with a hard hit fly ball to center field resulting in a double for Artz and scoring Fuller from first base.
Unfortunately for the Longhorns, the comeback fell one run short after they could only muster two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Tigers took the win 7-6 giving the Longhorns their first loss of the season.
Longhorns vs. Virginia City Muckers
In the second game of the day on March 10, the Longhorns squared off against the Virginia City Muckers. The Longhorns started quickly, scoring three runs in the first inning while Fuller continued to pitch well, not allowing a hit for the second game this past weekend.
Fuller pitched five innings in the game, only walking two batters who eventually scored off two errors in the game. The Longhorns secured the victory thanks to five runs in the fifth inning. The offense in the inning was led by Erik Martinez, Jace Clark, Gabe Naveran and Quinton Defoor, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning. The Longhorns defeated the Muckers 9-2 after the fifth inning. The Longhorns now return home for an upcoming game against the West Wendover Wolverines with games starting at 2 p.m.
