Warriors Crush Warriors as Nelson defeats Westcliff

The Nelson Warriors' baseball team (2-3) snapped a three-game losing skid, during which they managed just 10 total runs, by exploding for a season-high 13 runs on 14 hits in a commanding 13-4 victory over the Westcliff Warriors at home.

After Eli Arsenault opened the game by striking out the side in the top of the first, Gerardo Paco led off the bottom of the frame with a single, before he promptly stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored the game's first run when the Westcliff pitcher uncorked an error on a routine play. Three batters later, Gannon Aguilar doubled the lead with a two-run double, and Nelson was off and running.

Westcliff scratched across a run in the top of the third, but the Warriors answered emphatically in the bottom of the frame. After loading the bases, Aguilar stepped to the plate again and crushed a pitch to deep center field for the club's first grand slam of the season, blowing the game open at 7-1 and electrifying the home crowd.

Nelson kept the pressure on, plating two runs apiece in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings to reach their season-high output. The top of the order was particularly lethal: Paco went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while Brandon Ramirez torched the Westcliff pitching for a perfect 4-for-4 day with three runs of his own.

Aguilar was the star of the show, driving in a career-high seven runs on just two hits—including a ground-ball RBI in the seventh that brought him within two of the club single-game RBI record set by AJ Estill (9) on March 18, 2025. On the mound, Arsenault delivered his best start of the young season, moving to 1-1 with six strong innings. He allowed just five hits and three unearned runs while striking out 10 on 101 pitches, keeping Westcliff off balance and giving the offense room to breathe.

The two Warriors clubs face off in a double-header tomorrow, January 31, at Cortez High School, with first pitch of game one at 11:30am before the second game tips off at 3pm. The Nelson Warriors then enjoy a week off before taking on British Columbia for the second time at 6pm on Friday, February 6, at Cortez.

Do not forget to follow Nelson Athletics on X at @NelsonWarriors and Instagram at @nelsonwarriors.athletics.