The Preston Pirates baseball team opened their 2025 season with a dominant statement on the road Monday, rolling past Vanoss 16-0 in a game that saw them erupt for 10 runs in the fourth inning.
Preston wasted no time getting on the board, as Kaden Dean drove in the game’s first run with a single in the opening frame. They kept the momentum going in the second with RBI singles from Nick Costanza and Pepper Gallup, stretching the lead to 3-0.
In the third, the Pirates’ bats stayed hot. Weston Cope singled to center, Jace Basquez lined a hit down the left field line, and Costanza doubled to right – each knocking in a run to push the lead to 6-0.
The knockout blow came in the fourth inning, when Preston exploded for 10 runs. The inning was highlighted by Hunter McElhannon’s two-run homer to right field and a Peyton Fjeldsted RBI double. The Pirates also capitalized on bases-loaded walks drawn by Basquez, Gallup, McNac, McElhannon and Cope, plus a sacrifice fly from Dean.
On the mound, Bryce McNac earned the win with three dominant innings, allowing just one hit, no runs and striking out three without issuing a walk. Tyler Stevenson closed the game with a perfect inning of relief.
The Pirates pounded out 14 hits in the victory, with Costanza leading the way, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs. McElhannon also drove in three runs, while Dean, Fjeldsted and Basquez each collected multiple hits. Defensively, Preston was flawless, committing no errors, with Cope recording a teamhigh eight defensive plays.
Vanoss managed just one hit, coming off the bat of Hershel, and turned one double play in the loss.
– Dale Invitational up next The Pirates won’t have long to savor the win. They’ll now turn their attention to the Dale High School Invitational Tournament, running August 14–16 and featuring 12 competitive programs from across the state.
Preston opens tournament play Thursday at 4 p.m. against Amber-Pocasset (AMPO) at Dale’s home field. A win would advance them to Friday’s 6 p.m. semifinal against the Dale vs. AMPO winner, while a loss would place them in the consolation bracket for a 2 p.m. matchup at Seminole State College.
The tournament field includes host Dale, Calumet, Latta, Rattan, Dale JV, FCB, Colbert and Okarche, with games spread between Dale High School and Seminole State College.
With their offense firing on all cylinders and their pitching staff already in midseason form, the Preston Pirates look ready to make some noise in the season’s opening week.
