PUEBLO – The second-ranked Monte Vista High School baseball team kept its season alive on Friday at the Runyon Sports Complex’s Hobbs Field as it defeated fourth-ranked Denver Christian, 2-1, in eight innings to advance to the state championship game.

The Pirates, however, fell behind quickly in the title tilt and didn’t recover as it lost to top-ranked and defending state champion Forge Christian, 12-5, Saturday also at Hobbs Field.

“There’s only one happy team in the end, but I’m just proud of my guys,” said Monte Vista coach Luke Bradshaw. “This senior class continued to raise the bar until there’s only one thing left to do. They put their hearts and souls into this game. Every single day they showed up at the field, and as a coach, that’s all you ask. I’m proud of these guys and what they’ve done and continue to do. The senior class as they leave us is going to be successful in what their next move is. That’s just the kind of kids they are. They work hard, they compete, and they do whatever it is with passion and enthusiasm. It was an amazing season and there’s nothing to hang their heads on. We’re proud of these guys.”

Monte Vista 2, Denver Christian 1

The Pirates struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Kobe Jiron led off with a single and he took second on a passed ball. He came home on Azariah Hurtado’s triple.

The Thunder tied the score in the fourth. Nate Bovasso led off the frame with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Trey Speir singled Bovasso to third, and Bovasso tied the score on Camden Epperhart’s sacrifice fly.

Monte Vista won the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Chayse Bouet had as leadoff single, and Mark Martinez courtesy ran for him. Manny Jiron doubled to right center field, and Martinez came all the way around to score the winning run.

Landon Sanchez went the distance as the Pirates’ pitcher and he earned the win. He allowed one run and seven hits and he had two strikeouts, two walks and one nit batter.

Monte Vista had seven hits and was led by Kobe Jiron who went 1-3, Hurtado who went 1-3 with a triple and one RBI, Jakoby Ross who went 1-3, Judah ?Howe who went 1-3, Sanchez who went 1-3, Bouet who went 1-4, and Manny Jiron who went 1-4 with a double and one RBI.

Monte Vista 2, Denver Christian 1

Denver Christian 000 100 00 – 1 7 1

Monte Vista 100 000 01 – 2 7 2

Morris, C. Davy (5, L) and McCoy. Sanchez (W) and Bouet.

Forge Christian 12, Monte Vista 5

The Pirates struck first by scoring two runs in the top of the first. Kobe Jiron had a leadoff double and Hurtado followed with a home run to give Monte Vista a 2-0 lead.

It would prove to be the Pirates’ only lead and it wouldn’t last long as the Fury scored five runs in their half of the first. Easton Wilde got things rolling by getting hit by a pitch, and Sam Buerck drew a walk. Ben McLean singled to load the bases, and Carsen Hughes also walked to drive home Wilde.

Owen Carlson doubled home Buerck and McLean to put Forge Christian into the lead. Ivan Murphy singled to plate Hughes, and Carlson scored on an error for a 5-2 Forge Christian lead.

The Fury scored five more runs in the second. Buerck started the rally with a single, and Hughes hit a two-run homer to stretch the lead to 7-2.

Jonah Boykin singled, and Carlson reached on an error. Murphy was hit by a pitch to fill the sacks, and Jake Stocker cleared the bases with a double for a 10-2 Fury advantage.

The Pirates scored three times in the top of the third. Bouet and Hurtado both singled, and Manny Jiron hit a three-run home run.

Forge Christian scored two more runs in the sixth. McLean and Hughes both singled, and both advanced a base on Boykin’s sacrifice bunt. McLean scored on a wild pitch, and Murphy’s single plated Hughes.

Kobe Jiron started on the mound for the Pirates and he took the loss. He allowed seven runs and five hits with no strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter. Manny Jiron went to the mound in the second and gave up three runs and three hits and he struck out two, walked one and hit one batter. Howe finished the game and allowed two runs and four hits and he struck out four and walked none.

The Pirates had nine hits and were led by Hurtado who went 2-4 with a home run and two RBIs, Manny Jiron who went 2-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs, and Sanchez who went 2-2 with a double.

Monte Vista finished the season with 26 wins and two losses. It will lose five seniors to graduation, but Bradshaw says the future is bright.

“We lose a really good senior class and we’re going to miss those guys,” Bradshaw said. “They’ve set the standard for everybody else. The young guys are going to pick up from where these guys left off and continue carrying the torch. We’ve got a great youth program and if anybody wants to play baseball, go join those guys. They do a great job. We’ll get back to work this summer and continue to build.”

Forge Christian 12, Monte Vista 5

Monte Vista 203 000 0 –  5 9 3

Forge Christian 550 002 x – 12 12 2

K. Jiron (L), M. Jiron (2), Howe (4) and Bouet. Harhager, Stocker (3, W) and Buerck. HR – MV: Hurtado (1^st inn., 1 on, 1 out), M. Jiron (3^rd inn., 2 on, no outs); FC: Hughes (2^nd inn., 1 on, 2 out).