A season that started with an impressive win over Dos Pueblos more than a month earlier continued to take a downward turn Sept. 13 as the Pirates suffered a 30-13 Homecoming night defeat to Mission Prep.
Santa Ynez followed that up with a 13-7 loss at Nipomo on Sept. 20 in a game that saw some key Pirates players on the sidelines. That loss dropped SYHS’s record to 1-4 (pending last Friday’s result at Santa Maria) as it prepares to start Sunset League play on the road at Atascadero this Friday, Oct. 4.
The game against Mission Prep seemed to follow the script of the previous two losses against San Marcos and Lompoc: Keep the game close, or even have a lead, into the second half, but let the game get away late.
Santa Ynez High quarterback Jude Pritchard carries the ball during the Pirates’ Sept. 13 Homecoming game against Mission Prep.
The visiting Royals jumped out to a 10-point lead in the second quarter, but the Pirates struck with 36 second left in the first half when quarterback Jude Pritchard hit receiver Luke Gianis with a 26-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-7 at halftime.
After all the Homecoming halftime festivities, Pritchard was able to hit Gianis again for a score, this time from 15 yards out, to give the Pirates a 13-10 lead with 8:49 left in the third quarter.
The two touchdowns underscored a big night for Gianis, who had 9 catches for 114 yards to lead the team. Pritchard also put up some impressive numbers on the night, completing 24-of-28 passes, with no interceptions, 285 yards, and the two scores.
Mason Skidmore also emerged as a receiving target, catching 5 passes for 62 yards.
Diego Pulido, probably the Pirates’ best all-around player at kicker, receiver, and defensive back, had 4 receptions for 60 yards, but unfortunately had to come out with an injury after being tackled and didn’t return.
After the SYHS go-ahead TD, it was all Mission Prep. The Royals took back the lead at 17-13 with a touchdown run in the third quarter, and then scored twice more in the fourth for the final margin.
Santa Ynez High defenders Sebastian Perez (left) and Asa Radelfinger (right) bear down on a Mission Prep ballcarrier Sept. 13 during the Pirates’ Homecoming game.
Pirates head coach Josh McClurg was left shaking his head at another second-half fade.
“I don’t know what it is, but we’re just not finishing,” McClurg said. “We play them tough to begin with, give ourselves a chance to win, but then can’t close it.”
“This is probably the best team we’ve played this year,” the coach added. “But, we still need to do better in the second half.”
McClurg did have praise for Gianis and the offense.
“We did make some progress offensively, which was good,” he said. “And Gianis really stepped up with us gearing the offense toward him tonight.”
The next week against Nipomo, Santa Ynez struggled again. Of course, the Pirates had to play without three key players due to injury: Pulido, Pritchard and Max Andrade, a leader on defense.
The game between the Pirates and the Titans was short on points although both team were able to move the ball, with Santa Ynez gaining 362 yards of offense, and Nipomo 302 yards.
However, Nipomo was able to get into the end zone with touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters, while Santa Ynez was held scoreless until the fourth, when Griffin Bruner scored on a short run late in the game.
The Pirates will play their first Sunset League game this Friday night, 7 p.m. at Atascadero. It will be their third straight road game. After a bye week Oct. 11, SYHS will return to Rio Memorial Field for two straight home games, against Pioneer Valley on Oct. 18, and San Luis Obispo on Oct. 25, before traveling to Righetti to close out the regular season.
SYHS girls tennis and girls golf teams start Mountain League play
The Santa Ynez girls golf team played in the second Mountain League tournament of the season Sept. 24 at the par-73 Rancho Maria Golf Club. The Pirates placed second of five teams (behind Arroyo Grande), with Mackenzie Phelan leading the Pirates with an 83, the third lowest score on the day. Gigi Gunasayan and Cece Lewis of Arroyo Grande tied for the medalist of the match each scoring 76.
Other Santa Ynez scores were: Addison West, 101; Kacy Caplan, 103; Katherine Becerra, 108; Sierra Freedman, 108; and Savannah Hudley, 126.
The Pirates also placed second Sept. 16 in the first Mountain League tournament (again to Arroyo Grande). Phelan again led SYHS with an 88.
Girls tennis gets first Mountain League win
The Santa Ynez High girls tennis team just started its Mountain League schedule, and, after losses to Lompoc and Arroyo Grande, got into the win column Sept. 24 with a 6-3 victory over St. Joseph.
The Lady Pirates swept doubles to start the match as Keegan Withrow/Haley Townes won 8-7, (10-8); Kate Mazza/Natalie O’Shaughnessy won 8-0; Violet Quinney/Rylee Arellano won 8-6. In singles, No. 2 Townes (7-6 [9-7], 7-5), No. 4 O’Shaugnhnessy (6-4, 6-4), and No. 5 Danielle Hyland (6-1, 6-1) were victorious.
“Haley Townes played a great singles match to clinch the last win against St. Joe’s,” SYHS head coach Jennifer Rasmussen said. “She was down 1-4 in the first set and came back to win in a tie-breaker 9-7, and down 0-3 in the second set, pulling out a 7-5 win.”
Rasmussen also praised Townes and Withrow for their doubles victory.
“Keegan and Haley also played from behind in their first match of the day. They fell behind 0-5, but battled back tie it at 7 all, which lead to a 10-point super tie breaker,” the coach said. “They pulled off the victory, which gave the girls momentum going into singles up 3-0!”
