By Beth Jones
The Pirates opened the season Feb. 10 on the road and have chalked up four wins with just one loss in their 2026 campaign.
The Fernandina Beach High School baseball team (4-1) beat host Atlantic Coast 9-2 to kick off the season.
The lone loss came in their next matchup, as the Pirates lost to Bishop Snyder 2-0 on Feb. 11 in the home opener.
They rebounded and have won their last three – 5-4 in eight innings over Baldwin on Feb. 13, 2-0 over Sandalwood on Tuesday and 11-5 over host Hilliard on Thursday.
In Tuesday’s win over Sandalwood, Dalton Janey tripled and Conner Bayless and Eli Salyer had singles for the Pirates’ three hits. Janey scored both runs, and he also stole a pair of bases. Lucas Hutchinson also stole a base.
Grady Stevens got the win on the mound. He struck out seven and walked three in five innings.
The Pirates broke open a 3-3 stalemate in the third inning with four runs in the top of the third at Hilliard. The Flashes responded with a pair of runs, cutting the visitors’ lead to 7-5. FBHS scored three more in the top of the sixth and another in the top of the seventh for the 11-5 victory.
Pirate batters collected 10 hits. Landen Holbrook had three of them and two RBIs. Bayless had two hits and a pair of RBIs. Preston Matricardi, Trace Farmer (double and RBI), Salyer, John Addingon (double and an RBI) and Stevens had one hit apiece.
Holbrook, who collected the win on the mound, also stole four bases. Janey, Matricardi and Farmer stole one each.
The Pirates are back home tonight with the Bishop Kenny Crusaders. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at gofan.co.
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The Pirate baseball team hosted Sandalwood on Tuesday. Photos by Penny Glackin
