The Pirates were on the road twice this weekend as they played Ellsworth and Bay City to finish off the 2014 SCVBL regular season.   On Friday versus the Hubbers, the Pirates bats were cold early as the Spaniard kept us off-balance.  In the 3rd inning, Scott Dwyer put the Hubbers up 2-0 on a home run to left center.  The Pirates tied the game up in the 5th on Derek Munsen’s 2 run double, but the Hubbers jumped back in the lead in the bottom of the inning on another home run.  In the 7th with and runners on first and second, Britton Wolf relieved the Spaniard  to face off versus Nick Johnson.  Johnson promptly delivered a single to center scoring Alex Ross to tie the game at 3.  The Pirates took the lead in the 8th inning when Jake Hintz scored the eventual winning run on another double by Munsen.

Adam Barta started and finished the game for the Pirates as he pitched his second consecutive complete game, giving up three earned runs while striking out 6.  He kept a good hitting lineup at bay got better as the game went on.

Sunday the Pirates were in Bay City to clinch the SCVBL championship.  Eric Monson was on the mound for Prescott and he dominated the Bombers.  There were a few struggles early with command but he was able to induce three double plays and only one base runner reached third base.  He, like Bart, got better as the game went on and also threw a complete game, but this variety was a shut out.

The bats are in dire need of a PED or maybe an energy drink.  Facing back to back thumbers really hasn’t helped.  Brookshaw hit a double to left field that scored two runs to put us up 2-0.  Two bombers errors allowed two more runs to score and that is all I have to say about our offense as it has been pretty offensive to watch lately.

Prescott finds out Tuesday where and when playoffs will be.

On Sunday, the Pirates traveled to Menomonie to take on an undefeated Eagle squad.  Mark Moriarty started for the Pirates and pitched five innings, giving up one run on a handful of hits but unfortunately he had to leave to coach a game in La Crosse.  Eric Monson came in for Moriarty and that is where the game went from intense to crazy.

In the top of the 8th inning, Ryan Burmeister walked to lead off the inning.  Alex Ross then bunted down the 1st base side where the Eagle pitcher bobbled the ball and threw wild allowing Burmeister to scamper to third.  Billy Brookshaw tied the game up with a sacrafice fly to right field.

In the top of the 10th, Nick Johnson singled to center with two outs.  Jim French walked and Mike Brookshaw singled home Johnson on a really close play at home to give the Pirates their first lead.  In the bottom half of the inning, Menomonie had runners on first and second with two outs and an Eagle batter hits a ball down the third base line that hits the base, pops up over Billy Brookshaw landing in left field and allow the tying run to score.

In the bottom of the 11th, after a single and double, Menomonie had runners on second and third with nobody out.  Monson was able to strike out the next hitter for the first out.  The Pirates intentionally walked the next batter and played a five man infield.  The next hitter drilled one at Burmeister at shortstop where he fired home for the force out.  Monson was able to get the final out on a fly ball that ended another crazy inning.

In the top of the 13th, Brady Randolph singled up the middle and went to third base on Johnson’s single to right field.  Jim French put the Pirates ahead with a single to RF that plated Randolph and again, the Pirates lead.  Menomonie then tied the game in the bottom of the inning with the inning ending in a run down of Menomonie’s cat quick second baseman.

In the top of the 14th, Austin Tulip singled to left leading off the inning and Burmeister bunted him to second for the first out.  Alex Ross then tripled to dead center that scored Tulip and Ross scored on a wild pitch to put the Pirates up 5-3.  Of course, Menomonie would put two on in the bottom half of the inning but Johnson was able to induce a ground ball to third to end the debacle.

Fantastic game between two teams that should make some noise in the post season.

After Saturday’s loss to River Falls, the Pirates were ready to get back on the field to rebound from a tough game.  Adam Barta started on the mound for Prescott and threw great in the 7-1 victory.  Barta went all nine innings that included 8 strike outs and one run given up.  He set the tone from the beginning of the game giving the Pirates exactly what they needed.  The Pirates defense also played very well in turning three double plays and only committing one error.

Leading the Pirate offense was Alex Ross and Michael Brookshaw who had three hits each and combined five RBI.  Billy Brookshaw also had two hits and two SB’s.

The Pirates travel to Hastings Friday night to play in the annual River Rumble starting at 8 PM with Jesse Tollefson getting the start.

By Jason Strangis

The Prescott Pirates provided plenty of fireworks for their home fans last Sunday as they blasted Plum City 17-7 in seven innings.  The victory kept Prescott perfect in league play with a 10-0 record while boosting the team’s overall record to 13-2. It also kept Prescott undefeated at Firehall Field, where the Pirates are starting to feel almost invincible playing in their friendly confines.

Against Plum City, the Pirates got off to a fast start and took a 6-0 lead after the first inning. Many of Prescott’s runs were unearned, though, as Plum City committed several errors to give the Pirates early command.  But shortly after the Pirates had several defensive mistakes of their own, and the Blues scored five times in the second inning. Prescott made four errors in the inning and the Blues were suddenly right back in the game, trailing 6-5.

From there the Pirates settled down and started pulling away from their foes. Jared Powell got momentum back in Prescott’s favor when he hit a solo home run in the second inning and the Pirates were off and running.  Prescott added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to lead 13-5. Billy Brookshaw highlighted the inning with a triple with two outs that scored two runs. Jim French knocked a double that scored two runs as well.  But the Pirates weren’t done tallying runs, coming up with two runs in the sixth inning and two more in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

Overall, Prescott had 12 hits. Plum City went with three pitchers in the game, and all three struggled at times against Prescott’s strong offense.   Several Prescott players had impressive hitting performances. French stayed hot at the plate with three doubles. Logan Johnson smacked two doubles for the home team, and Brady Randolph had two hits and drove in a run.

Pitcher Eric Monson was on the mound for most of the game for Prescott. After Plum City scored five runs (many unearned) in the second inning to get back in the game, Monson held the Blues at bay the rest of the way, allowing just one more hit in six innings that he pitched.