The Moapa Valley High School baseball team lost its first league game of the season against Boulder City in Overton on Wednesday, March 25, but the Pirates had ample opportunities to win.

The Pirates had nine hits off Eagles’ starter Tate Crine, but just a third of them scored, as Crine limited damage and walked no one, striking out eight over six innings.

Jake Hadley also pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and no walks while striking out seven, but fielding errors accounted for two of his five runs allowed, which was the difference in the game. Hadley also had two hits.

“The scores don’t represent how the game went. Jake Hadley is pitching and hitting very well right now. We’re growing and sometimes that involves growing pains, but I’m confident we’ll get there,” said MVHS head coach Justin Williams.

Toby Wood had the lone extra base hit for the Pirates, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Christopher Kohntopp drove in a run with a hit, and Lincoln Stankosky was 2-for-3. Jayden Staley pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

In Boulder City on Friday, March 27, the Pirates committed three errors that accounted for nine runs in a 17-7 loss. Moapa Valley scored four in the first, but the Eagles plated eight in the third inning. Austin Reese allowed three earned runs on just five hits over 2.1 innings but walked four.

Kohntopp was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Hadley was 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Wood drove in three with a double for the Pirates.

MVHS (5-8, 0-2) visits Virgin Valley (8-4, 0-2) at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30. Eldorado (3-4, 3-3) is in town for a game at the same time on Tuesday, and SLAM! (2-10, 0-2) visits at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 2. The Bulldogs return to complete the season series at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.