8/7/2026-GARDEN CITY, KS - The Garden City Wind completed a remarkable comeback Friday night, rallying from six runs down to defeat the Martinez Sturgeon 8-7 in Game 1 of the Pecos League Championship Series at Clint Lightner Field.

Martinez came out swinging in the top of the first inning and stunned Garden City with six runs. Michael Pavelchak started the game with a double before Nick Thomson walked and Andrew Curran was hit by a pitch. Kyle Norton was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home Pavelchak for the first run.

Jacob Klinovsky followed with a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0 before Josh Hardamon delivered the biggest swing of the night for Martinez. Hardamon blasted a grand slam, scoring Klinovsky, Norton and Curran and suddenly giving the Sturgeon a 6-0 advantage.

Garden City refused to let the game get away. Darius Freeman singled to begin the bottom of the first and eventually scored on a Ben Bach RBI groundout. Peyton Lewis later scored on a wild pitch as the Wind immediately cut the deficit to 6-2.

The comeback continued in the third. Bach doubled and Kaden Kirshenbaum walked before Martinez committed a throwing error during Kirshenbaums stolen-base attempt, allowing Bach to score. Leyton Barry then singled home Kirshenbaum and Garden City was suddenly within two runs at 6-4.

Martinez added its final run in the fourth when Pavelchak singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch, extending the Sturgeon lead to 7-4.

Garden City answered again in the fifth. Kirshenbaum singled, Barry walked and Jordan Williams moved both runners over with a sacrifice. Aaron Izquierdo then brought Kirshenbaum home on a fielders choice, cutting the Martinez lead to 7- 5.

The Wind finally completed the comeback in the sixth inning. Freeman singled and stole second before Lewis ripped an RBI single to score him and make it 7-6. After Lewis advanced to third, Barry brought him home with an RBI groundout, tying the game 7-7.

While the Garden City offense battled back, Adam Metivier completely shut down the Martinez lineup. Metivier replaced starter Mason DeVerna in the sixth and allowed just one hit over four scoreless innings. He walked nobody and struck out two, giving the Wind an opportunity to finish the comeback.

Garden City took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth. Lewis drew a walk and Bach was hit by a pitch. The two then executed a double steal, with Lewis taking third and Bach moving to second. Kirshenbaum walked to load the bases before a wild pitch allowed Lewis to race home with the go-ahead run and give Garden City an 8-7 lead.

Metivier finished the job in the ninth. Pavelchak flew out to right, Thomson followed with another fly ball to right and Curran flew out to right for the final out, completing Garden Citys dramatic Game 1 victory.

Freeman led the Wind offense with a 3-for-5 performance, scoring twice and stealing two bases. Lewis scored three runs and drove in one, while Barry finished with two RBI. Bach doubled, scored a run and drove in another, while Kirshenbaum reached base four times with a hit and three walks and scored twice.

Pavelchak led Martinez by going 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Hardamon supplied four of the Sturgeons six RBI with his first-inning grand slam.

Garden City finished with eight runs on eight hits and committed no errors, while Martinez scored seven runs on five hits and committed two errors.

FINAL: Garden City Wind 8, Martinez Sturgeon 7
Garden City wins Game 1 of the Pecos League Championship Series.