The Phoenix Pirates will take on the Estacada Rangers at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Phoenix 3.6, Estacada 2.8) so any runs scored will be well earned.
On Thursday, Phoenix needed a bit of extra time to put away St. Helens. They won by a run and slipped past the Lions 7-6. While the Pirates didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-11), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Alex Charlton was a major factor no matter where he played. He didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out six over four innings pitched. Charlton was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and one run.
Conner Cunningham
| 03/26/26 vs St. Helens | 1 |
| 03/25/26 @ Sweet Home | 1 |
| 03/24/26 @ The Dalles | 1 |
In other batting news, Phoenix let Conner Cunningham and Lucca Petrone run wild. Cunningham went 3-for-4 with one stolen base and one run, while Petrone went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Cunningham is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played.
Phoenix kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 18 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Estacada). They were the clear victors by an 18-0 margin over North Valley on Friday. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the team's high-flying offense, the game also marked the team's biggest win of the season.
Lincoln Bunyard made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit over four innings pitched. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in strikeouts (five). He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and two RBI.
In other batting news, Blake Barger was incredible, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, four runs, and one RBI. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in May of 2025. Duke Durand was another key player, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one double.
Phoenix's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 7-1. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.7 runs over those games. As for Estacada, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
Saturday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Phoenix has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .454. However, it's not like Estacada struggles in that department as they've averaged .481. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
