PUEBLO – The second-ranked Monte Vista High School baseball team won its first two games at the Class 2A State Tournament on Friday at the Runyon Sports Complex’s Andenucio Field.

The Pirates defeated seventh-ranked Peyton and sixth-ranked Limon by identical 6-1 scores.

They then faced top-ranked and defending state champion Forge Christian Saturday at Hobbs Field. Monte Vista had a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, however, the Fury tied the score to send the game into extra innings. Forge won in the bottom of the 11^th, 3-2.

“I don’t really care about the score of that game,” said Monte Vista coach Luke Bradshaw. “I’m proud of my guys. The way they played and the guts they showed. We played 11 innings with a heck of a ball club and my guys showed a lot of guts out there and I’m proud of everything they do. They love each other and they compete for each other and we’re not done yet. The story’s not done. We’re going to come back on Monday and go to work and we’re going to see these guys again.”

Monte Vista 6, Peyton 1

After a scoreless first inning, the Pirates scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Manny Jiron led off with a double and Judah Howe followed with a single. Howe stole second to get into scoring position, and Michael Hensley doubled home both runners. Kelby Mondragon singled to plate Hensley for a 3-0 lead.

Monte Vista scored once in the third. Chayse Bouet led off the inning with a double and he stole third. He came home on Azariah Hurtado’s sacrifice fly.

The Pirates scored two more runs in the fifth. Kobe Jiron had a leadoff single but got caught in a rundown between first and second. An error allowed Kobe Jiron to stay alive and advance to third, and Bouet followed with an infield single. Kobe Jiron scored on Many Jiron’s sacrifice fly, and Howe singled home Bouet.

The Panthers scored their only run in the top of the seventh. Trent Gregg reached on an error and he went to second on a wild pitch. Brennan Christensen singled and Brayden Nonaka walked to load the bases. Tai Kapu was safe on an error allowing Gregg to score, but the Pirates turned a double play to end the threat.

Landon Sanchez went the distance on the mound and took the win. He allowed one unearned run and two hits and he had nine strikeouts, one walk and one hit batter.

The Pirates had nine hits and were led by Bouet who went 2-3 with a double, Howe who went 2-3 with a double and one RBI, and Hensley who went 2-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Monte Vista 6, Peyton 1

Peyton 000 000 1 – 1 2 2

Monte Vista 031 020 x – 6 9 2

Love (L) and Ornelas. Sanchez (W) and Bouet.

Monte Vista 6, Limon 1

There was no scoring in the first three innings, but the Pirates broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Bouet started the rally with a single, and Hurtado hit a two-run homer. Manny Jiron continued the inning with a single, and Jakoby Ross reached on an error. Sanchez got an infield single to load the bases, and Hensley singled home Manny Jiron and Ross. Mondragon was hit by a pitch to again fill the sacks, and Kobe Jiron was hit to drive home Sanchez.

The Badgers scored their only run in the top of the sixth. Brooks Scherrer led off with a single and he stole second and took third on a wild pitch. He came home on Aiden Kollath’s sacrifice fly.

The Pirates scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Sanchez was safe on an error and took second on the play. He moved to third on Mondrago’s sacrifice bunt, and Kobe Jiron also reached on an error to bring Sanchez home.

Kobe Jiron went the distance as the Pirates’ pitcher and he earned the win. He gave up one run and three hits, and he struck out four and walked one.

Monte Vista had eight hits and was led by Sanchez who went 2-3, Hurtado who went 2-4 with a triple, a home run and two RBIs, and Bouet who went 2-4,

Monte Vista 6, Limon 1

Limon 000 001 0 – 1 3 3

Monte Vista 000 501 x – 6 8 0

Broo. Scherrer (L), Brod. Scherrer (6) and Lockhart. K. Jiron (W) and Bouet. HR – MV: Hurtado (5^th inn., 1 on., 1 out).

Forge Christian 3, Monte Vista 2

After three scoreless innings, the Pirates drew first blood with a run in the top of the fourth. Hurtado drew a walk and stole second. He scored on Manny Jiron’s single.

Monte Vista added another run in the sixth. Kobe Jiron led off with a walk, and Hurtado also had a base on balls. Howe singled home Kobe Jiron for a 2-0 lead.

Forge Christian tied the score in the seventh. Carsen Hughes led off with a double and Jonah Boykin walked. They both stole a base, and Hughes scored on a passed ball. Boykin also attempted to score on the play but was tagged out.

Owen Carlson continued the inning with a single and Jake Stocker singled. Carlson went to third on a wild pitch, and another wild pitch brought home Carlson with the tying run.

The Pirates got out of jams in the eighth, ninth and 10^th innings. However, the Fury scored the winning run in the 11^th. Ivan Murphy singled and went to second on Carlson’s sacrifice. Stoker singled home Murphy with the game winner.

Howe started at pitcher for the Pirates and went into the seventh. He allowed two runs and four hits and he had four strikeouts and three walks. Hensley relieved Howe and gave up no runs amd two hits with one strikeout and no walks. Manny Jiron finished the game and took the loss. He surrendered one run and four hits and he struck out five and walked one.

The Pirates had only three hits with Many Jiron going 1-4 with one RBI, Howe going 1-4 with one RBI, and Hensley going 1-4.

What’s next

Monte Vista (25-1) slips into the consolation bracket and it will play either third-ranked Yuma or fourth-ranked Denver Christian at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. A win will have the Pirates having to defeat Forge Christian twice to win the state championship. The first game begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the second, if needed, begins at 12:30 p.m.

Forge Christian 3, Monte Vista 2

Monte Vista 000 101 000 00 – 2 3 1

Forge Christian 000 000 200 01 – 3 10 1

Howe, Hensely (7), M. Jiron (8, L) and Bouet. Harhager, McLean (6, W) and Buerick.