- April 18, 2024
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Matanzas pitcher Emma Woods tosses the ball in the third inning against Seabreeze. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Alyssia Paiz waits for a pitch in the opening game of the season against Seabreeze. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Lexie Hawkins rounds second base against Seabreeze. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Ellie Hansen slides onto second base against Seabreeze. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Emma Wood connects with a pitch against the Sandcrabs. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Ellie Hansen (No. 24) gets in her stance during the bottom of the fifth inning. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Randa Motsinger reaches for a catch against the Sandcrabs. Photo by Ray Boone
With a 10-point lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Pirates needed three more outs to run-rule rival Seabreeze on the night of Wednesday, Feb. 20.
The Pirates Grace Ledrich entered the circle at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. The first Sandcrabs batter hit a ground ball toward shortstop Ellie Hansen, who snagged it cleanly off the clay and pitched it to Randa Motsinger at first base — out.
The second batter popped out to third baseman Kadrianna Grinstead.
Ledrich then gave up two singles and two walks, which loaded the bases. On a 2-2 count with the run-rule in balance, Seabreeze’s last batter was struck out swinging.
“This team just pushes through everything,” the Pirates’ Isabella Santiago said. “Even if we’re falling flat. We want to push through to the end.”
Matanzas jumped on the Sandcrabs early. After an RBI double by Nikolena Perrine, Lexie Hawkins plated two of her teammates off of a single, giving the Pirates a 7-0 lead after three innings.
“They’re getting better every time we come out, which is what we want. We want to peak later on in the season.”
Sabrina Manhart, Matanzas coach
In addition, starting pitcher Emma Wood did not give up a hit in those three periods. Ledrich replaced her in the fourth frame.
Alexia Moy hit and inside-the-park home run in the fifth, and Motsinger hit a 2 RBI triple in the sixth to vault the Pirates to double-digit runs.
The season-opening win comes days after the Pirates crushed Ponte Vedra 10-1 in the preseason.
“It’s exciting because we’ve been working on a lot of things,” Matanzas coach Sabrina Manhart said. “There’s a lot of teachable moments. And the things that I’m asking them to do, they’re actually executing in the games.”
