Game 1 MVP: Garrison Thornton

Co-Captain and shortstop Garrison Thornton turned in a stellar performance as he lit up the Dodgers for three hits (a single, double and a triple). In addition, he scored three runs on offense and made two outs on defense. Great job Garrison...keep it up!

Pirates Suffer Heartbreaking Loss In Season Opener

In our first game of the season, the Pirates got off to a slow start. Jeremiah Fountain was given the nod to start against the upstart Dodgers. Jeremiah showed command in the first inning for it to be his first start of the year. However, the defense let him down as we gave up 5 runs in the second inning. Ryan "A-1" Aubrey came on in relief in the third and showed great character. All in all, our pitching performances were adequate for this time of the season. On offense, after getting off to a slow start, the Pirates ended up with 10 hits. While we out hit the Dodgers, we gave up too many runs on walks to the Dodger and didn't come alive on offense until it was too late. It must be noted that there were several key performances: A-1 had 2 hits and was very aggressive on the base path; Brandon Chatman had a key double that sparked our offense; Garrison Thornton ended up with three hits and three runs scored; Jack Lockhart had two hits and scored a run; Dylan Kemp got his first hit in the season opener; and Justin Leone played well on defense at third base.

Final Score: Dodgers 14, Pirates 9

2010 Spring Training Begins for Pirates

The Pirates are pleased to announce the start of spring training for the upcoming season. In addition to the returning players, we are excited to be joined by some new faces. Our new players include:

Jeremiah Fountain
Matthew Mayes
Chase Joyner
Dylan Kemp

Coaches for this season include:
Mike Thornton (Manager)
Larry Chatman (Assistant Coach)
Dia Fountain (Assistant Coach)
Ron Thornton (Assistant Coach)

We look forward to an fun-filled and competitive season as we welcome these new players to our family.

Game 15 MVP: Jack Lockhart

Our catcher/utility player, Jack Lockhart, came up big in his assingment in game 15 as catcher. Even though he has had limited experience behind the plate this year, he performed like a seasoned veteran and we are all proud of his tenacity and skill displayed on Saturday. In addition to his consistent offense performance (2 hits and 1 run scored), Jack caught a file tip off one of the Cadinals bats recording an out at a crucial time in the game (first time this was done all year). Congrats Jack!

Game 15 Recap: Pirates fall to Cardinals in nail-biter

Game 15 found the Pirates once again facing the first place Cardinals. After our last meeting, the Pirates discovered a quiet confidence that had them currently on a 4-game win streak. The beginning of the game did not dissapoint even the most diehard little league fan, as both teams were held scoreless in the first two innings behind solid pitching and good defense. After the Cardinals struck first blood by scoring one run in the 3rd inning, the Pirates followed by taking a 2-1 lead off an RBI triple by Garrison Thornton. The two teams traded runs over the next couple innings and the Pirates found themselves in the lead late into the fifth inning. However, a couple of untimely errors saw the Cardinals take a one run lead into the last inning. Even though our bats were lively throughout the game, once the Cardinals brought in their closer, we could not must another run and lost the game by one run. All in all, the Pirates must be commended for their effort and determination to compete.

Final Score: Cardinals 6, Pirates 5

Game 13 MVP: Brandon Chatman

Our second baseman and co-captain, Brandon Chatman, had a career game against the Athletics as he turned in solid numbers that included 2 hits, a stolen base and a run scored. He was a key part of our offensive attack that included 7 hits. Congratulations, Brandon!

Game 13 Recap: Pirates become a legitimate threat

Game 13 pitted our beloved Pirates againts our nemesis the Athletics. In a game that was supposed to be a lock for the Athletics, the Pirates remembered the sour taste left in their mouths after the last defeat. The first inning saw both team trade runs and the game was tied at 2-2. After the A's put up two more runs in the next two innings, the Pirates waited for their turn to strike. Going into the fourth inning, the A's had been held at bay and allowed only 4 runs behind solid pitching from Garrison Thornton. That's when the Pirates offense came alive and quickly began a 4-run rally that saw Jordan Lee and Ryan Mitchell get their first hits of the season. Timely hits by Ryan "A1" Aubrey and Miles Nosike were bookends for walks received by Cole McNeill, Jack Lockhart, Ryan "Row" Wimsatt and Justin Leone. The game ended with Matthew Hamilton coming in as the closer and retiring all six batters he faced. This was an especially sweet win since it marked our lowest run total we have allowed this season.

Final Score: Pirates 6, Athletics 4