Saturday, the Pershing County baseball team recorded its first win of the 2021 season on the road against Silver Stage. The Mustangs lost the first game of the doubleheader (11-2) but came back to win the second (12-11). Tuesday, Lovelock hosted Battle Mountain. Results were not available at press time.
“We showed some glimpses and felt we let one get away,” said asst. coach Jesse Canchola about the first go-around against Silver Stage. “Tim (Fecht) pitched a great game. As a team we struggled defensively to get the easy outs.” Canchola also said that errors contributed to the loss. Pershing had four to Stage’s one.
The first inning tied at one, but the Nighthawks pulled away in the second with four runs. The Mustangs tried for a comeback with one run in the third inning. But the rest of the contest belonged to Stage.
The wind kicked up a fuss, interfering with the ball’s intended path. But it may have dropped angel dust on the Mustang’s bats. The second game was a complete turnaround from the first, both offensively and defensively.
Also, the Mustangs turned up their volume. Deafening cheers erupted from the dugout and on the field.
Blake Barter finished the day with 110 pitches. He left in the bottom of the seventh inning due to pitching the maximum allowed.
The Mustangs began the seventh inning leading 12-5, but Silver Stage rallied with all their might.
“They started to swing the bat and creep in on our lead,” said Canchola. Connor Fecht, a freshman, got the nod to take over as pitcher with one out and several Stage players on base.
“It wasn’t his best outing, as the lead grew smaller, but his composure to get the outs needed to finish the game was awesome,” said Canchola. “With players on third and second and one more out to go, Silver Stage hit a pop up directly over Connor, and he made the final out. The win was a statement of how hard the kids work all week to get better and better.”
On Saturday, May 1, the Mustangs host Yerington at 10 a.m. and noon. The Lions are currently 5-0 and ranked number one in the 2A. AD Mike Brooks says fans are welcome but should wear masks and practice social distancing.
