Pirates sweep Titans

OLATHE — After winning four of five games last week, the Olathe Pirates added a pair of wins Saturday over the Coal Ridge Titans from New Castle 12-1 and 17-3.

Coach Joe Archuleta characterized the Pirates’ performance as “sound all the way around. We got good pitching from Colby  and Skylar, and the defense played clean all the way.” He felt the team has been playing well since splitting a doubleheader in Aspen and adding a big win over league-leading Gunnison.

Both Pirate starting pitchers turned in complete game victories. In the opening game, Colby Corey gave up a single run in the fourth inning, allowing only two Coal Ridge hits and striking out three in the five inning game. In five innings of work on the mound, Corey faced only 17 batters.

Skylar Smith followed in the second game with a similar strong performance, giving up three runs in the third inning on a walk, sacrifice bunt, a triple and two back-to-back doubles. The three consecutive hits by Coal Ridge proved to be the only three hits Smith allowed during his five innings on the mound.

Smith also struck out a total of 10 Titan hitters in the game shortened by the 10-run rule.

The Pirates had a big day at the plate to go with their outstanding pitching. Dylan Markley opened the first game with a single on the first pitch he saw and was followed by singles from Willy and Colby Corey. Sophomore catcher Cody Harrison added a line drive home run, the first of his varsity career, as part of the five runs put up by Olathe in the first inning.

The second inning had Markley lead off again with a single on the first pitch, followed by Willy Corey’s double. Colby Corey walked to set the table for Harrison’s RBI single. Andrew Rivera added a single of his own, scoring on Smith’s base hit to left to put the Pirates up 10-0.

Coal Ridge scored their only run when the Titan’s catcher hit a triple and scored on a sacrifice bunt, Olathe being happy to trade the run for an out at first.

The home team added two in the bottom of the fourth to finish the scoring.

In the second game, tied 3-3 after Coal Ridge scored their runs in the top of the third, the Pirates put up five of their own in the bottom of the third on a double by John Glover, a couple of infield errors and Colby Corey’s triple.

The Pirates then put the game away in their half of the fourth inning. Winning pitcher Smith hit a 1-0 fastball over the left field fence. Joe Glover followed with a double. John Glover walked and Dylan Markley and Willy Corey had back-to-back homers to put the game out of reach. Colby Corey also went three for four in the game.

The wins put Olathe at 8-2 in the Western Slope and 11-2 overall on the season. The Pirates will be at home against Cedaredge next Saturday for a doubleheader set for 10 a.m. and will close the regular season on the road against Grand Valley the following Monday.