A week after getting swept in a three-game series in Dayton to open league play, the Fernley High School baseball team responded with its own sweep over the defending 3A state champion last weekend.
The Vaqueros beat Truckee High School 13-3 on Friday, then 7-5 and 4-3 in Saturday’s doubleheader to even their league record at 3-3 heading into their rivalry matchup with Fallon High School this weekend.
“We fixed those mistakes that held us back against Dayton and played clean baseball,” coach Thomas Chapin said. “Our pitchers all threw very well and were a big key of the success.”
The Vaqueros and Greenwave will play a single game at 3 p.m. Friday, then a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. Fallon is in a three-way tie for second place in the Northern 3A with a 5-1 record, winning two of three from South Tahoe High School and sweeping Lowry High School.
The Vaqueros came out like a team looking to make amends in Friday’s first game against Truckee, scoring four runs in each of the first two innings. They scored in every inning except the third before ending the game in the sixth by the 10-run rule.
Nikko Pryor and Spencer Pryor had back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the bottom of the first. After Truckee got two runs in the top of the second, Spencer Pryor singled home two runs in the bottom half of the inning, then two more runs scored on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball.
Fernley made it 10-2 in the fourth inning when Nikko Pryor hit a double that scored Riley McCullar, then Pryor scored on a throwing error as he was trying to advance to third on the throw home. The Vaqueros took advantage of three walks and an error to score twice in the sixth to end the game.
In addition to his offensive exploits, Nikko Pryor also had a strong outing on the mound, pitching the first 4 2/3 innings before coming near the pitch limit. He struck out eight and walked one while allowing three runs. Matthew Bigrigg needed only 13 pitches to retire all four batters he faced in relief to finish the game.
The Vaqueros held on to win the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader 7-5 after building a five-run lead.
They were up 3-2 before they scored four runs in the fifth inning. Doubles by Jayse Jones and McCullar started the rally and made it 4-2, then the Vaqueros capitalized on Truckee errors to push three more across.
Nikko Pryor hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and both Vance Swindlehurst and Brodie Jones had two hits.
All of the scoring in Saturday’s second game came in the second and third innings. The Vaqueros got three in the bottom of the second. Spencer Pryor and Brodie Jones singled to start the rally. One run scored on a groundout by Bigrigg and two scored on an error.
Truckee tied the game with three of their own in the top of the third. In the bottom of the third, McCullar singled, stole second, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nikko Pryor.
Jayse Jones pitched a complete game, throwing only 73 pitches with three strikeouts, one walk and giving up six hits.
“Overall as a team we were consistently putting the ball in play and creating offensive opportunities for ourselves,” Chapin said.
He said last week’s success started with a great week of practice. With Fallon coming in this week, the Vaqueros have a chance to put themselves right in the mix at the top of the league.
“We’re gonna get back to work, replicate our successes at practice, and look to have another great weekend in a massive rivalry series,” he said.
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