- April 19, 2024
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Matanzas' Owen Cuthbert throws a ball to first base. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Bobby Sparling gets in his batter's stance. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Owen Cuthbert throws a ball home. Photo by Ray Boone
Despite a victory that saw the Pirates claw their way back from a 5-2 deficit, Matanzas baseball coach Jim Perry was unhappy after his team’s 8-7 win over Mainland, who the Pirates lost to only two nights before.
Well after the game had concluded, Perry gathered with his players and voiced his frustrations: the mental errors, the poor fielding, the overthrows. The mistakes the Pirates made for much of their contest against Mainland on the night of Thursday, March 8, could have eliminated any chance of a comeback. But they fought through it.
“We struggled early,” Perry said. “We fell in love with some things and relaxed mentally. We were very fortunate to make some adjustments as the game went on.”
Among the things the Pirates “fell in love with” was trying to pick the runner off at first base.
Matanzas accomplished the feat once early in the game, picking off a runner on first to record the second out of the inning. However, the Buccaneers also scored runs due to infielders overthrowing Pirates first baseman Jason Guilbee.
“And then, we forgot how to pitch,” Perry said. “You’ve still got to throw strikes. The pick-off attempts, they can put us in a bad situation.”
The Pirates also struggled with keeping double plays and force-outs in order.
“It just makes it more difficult to get outs,” Perry said. “If you can keep those things in order, it’s a whole lot easier to pitch because you don’t have to work as hard to get hitters out.
“Thankfully, we ended up on the right side of the scoreboard tonight.”
