MANNFORD — The Mannford Pirates are still trying to find their footing this season, and the scoreboard hasn’t been kind.
The Pirates have opened the year 0–5, and the last two games were a reminder that high school baseball can be unforgiving when things start to list.
Tuesday’s trip to Miami turned ugly early and stayed that way.
Before Mannford could settle in, Miami had already scratched two runs across in the first inning — one on a passed ball and another on a sacrifice. By the third inning the gap was growing, and by the fifth Miami slammed the door with a five-run outburst that included a three-run double and a two-run blast over the left-field wall.
Mannford showed flashes at the plate but couldn’t string enough hits together to keep pace. Kayden Leslie, Ricky Morgan, Major Hilton, Cooper Ausbern, Corbin Mobley and Ryker Pollard each collected a hit, while Leslie, Lyndon Hamilton and Pollard drove in runs.
But Miami’s lineup kept the pressure on, piling up 10 hits and working seven walks while Mannford pitchers were forced to battle out of trouble most of the afternoon.
Cooper Ausbern took the loss on the mound, striking out three but running into a Miami lineup that seemed to have an answer for everything.
If the Pirates were hoping for a reset Saturday against Kiefer, it started promising enough.
Ausbern blasted a solo home run in the second inning — a reminder that the Pirates have pop in the lineup.
But Kiefer responded quickly and aggressively. A sacrifice fly, a two-run double and a run-scoring single in the third inning flipped the game on its head, and the Trojans never looked back.
Kiefer pitcher Carson Nance struck out 10 and kept Mannford hitters chasing for most of the afternoon.
Mannford still managed to get contributions from across the lineup. Leslie, Morgan, Hilton and Ausbern again produced hits, while Ausbern and Mobley drove in runs.
But defensive pressure from Kiefer made life miserable for the Pirates. The Trojans ran wild on the bases, swiping eight steals and constantly forcing Mannford to rush plays.
The result was an 8-4 loss and another frustrating chapter in a young season that hasn’t found its rhythm yet.
Still, the Pirates haven’t stopped competing. The lineup continues to produce scattered hits, and players like Ausbern, Leslie, Morgan, Hilton, Mobley and Pollard have all shown flashes that suggest this team might just be one good game away from changing the mood in the dugout.
That opportunity came Monday when Mannford hosted Inola.
Results weren’t available by press time.