Pilot Point turned out to root for the home team on its new home field on Tuesday for the ribbon cutting of the baseball field’s new turf playing surface before the varsity team beat rival Whitesboro, 8-2.
The Pilot Point community arrived en masse to share food, celebrate the completion of the renovations to the baseball field’s new playing surface and watch as Pilot Point’s varsity team smothered Whitesboro on PPYSA youth night.
“It’s been a beautiful event, and a lot of fun seeing all the families and all the students here,” said Dr. Brant Perry, PPISD assistant superintendent of operations and administration. “… This field will absolutely be a part of many generations to come as a place to celebrate athletics, and on behalf of Dr. [Shannon] Fuller, myself, and the entire administration, we’d really like to thank the board for putting together the field for us and giving us the funds in order to do this for the kids.”
After the opening festivities, Pilot Point took an early 4-0 lead over Whitesboro in the bottom of the first inning.
Pilot Point got its first two runs after an error by a Whitesboro fielder allowed Hastings Fischer and Fernando Marmolejo Jr. to cross home plate.
Riley Scholl drove in the next run with a line drive single to right field, making the score 3-0.
Emery Lay drove in the fourth run with a line drive to left field.
Whitesboro finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, making the game 4-1.
Pilot Point added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings, taking the win 8-2.
Lay led Pilot Point’s offense with three hits and two RBIs.
“We just put together good at-bats,” he said. “We saw the ball really well, and the guys batting ahead of us helped everyone get their timing down while we were in the ondeck circle.”
Marmolejo led Pilot Point from the pitcher’s mound, striking out four batters and allowing two runs.
“It felt great to get the win tonight,” he said. “Last week, we hit a little bump on the road, but we came out here tonight and showed what we’re made of, and it was great to see all these fans that came out to watch us.”
Head baseball coach Tyler Vernon credited the team’s performance to the energy from the home crowd.
“The community support was huge,” Vernon said. “The fans had our players’ backs, and our guys could definitely feel that. I think that’s the loudest and biggest crowd of people we’ve had at a baseball game since I’ve been here, and I hope that continues and they see that Pilot Point baseball is here.”
PPISD also celebrated youth night, allowing the PPYSA’s baseball teams to run the bases on the new field, take photos, and get signed cards and hats from Pilot Point’s varsity coaches and players.
The night was made even more special when Pilot Point’s baseball team recognized Terry Wolf, Pilot Point baseball coaching mentor, for his 700th career win.
“It’s been a personal goal, but achieving something like this was something I didn’t think would ever happen,” he said. “And to be able to do it with this young team that we have here in Pilot Point, … it’s been a godsend for me.”
Pilot Point is scheduled to play the second game of their home and away series with Whitesboro at 5 p.m. Friday in Whitesboro.
