The Western High baseball team is grinding out eight games in 12 days as they prepare to open up Empire League play next week. The Pioneers were 10-7 heading into this week, while still in the midst of the Beach Pit Tournament. They were 2-2 in the Anaheim Lions Tournament just prior to getting into the Beach Pit. In a 4-2 win over Culver City, the Pioneers were led by pitcher AnthonyEquiarta, who pitched seven innings, scattering seven hits with three strikeouts. Equiarta also had a hit, run and RBI. Shortstop Jeremiah Vison was 2 for 4 with a triple and two runs. Chris Morgan had a double and two RBIs. Mark Hyun had an RBI and Garrett Scott had a hit and run scored. Prior to that game, the Pioneers had a 4-0 win over Viewmont of Utah, with Darren Hernandez pitching the complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits, with 10 strikeouts.The offense pounded out 13 hits. Equiarta was 3-3 with a run scored. Vison was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Iram Jimenez had a hit, run and RBI. Hyun had a RBI. Scott was 2 for 4 with a run and stolen base. But the Pioneers stumbled in a loss to Capistrano Valley in their final game of the Lions Tournament and then opened the Beach pit with a 3-1 loss to Saugus. The Pioneers looked to get back on track as they had three more Beach Pit games this week (past our deadline) and will open Empire League play at home against Kennedy on April 13, at 3:15 p.m. Pioneer softball tops Pioneer High The Western High softball team defeated Pioneer High, 7-3, last week at Western High. The Pioneers were led by Julie Gakere who was 2 for 3 with a double, 4 RBIs and a run scored. Emily Muro was 2 for 3, with a double and two runs. Pitcher Jennifer Hartman pitched seven innings, with three runs allowed and a strikeout. The Pioneers are hosting a double-header against Valley Christian of Cerritos on Saturday. The first game will be at 9 a.m. with the second about 20 minutes after the end of the first game. They will open Empire League play on April 12 at Kennedy High, at 3:15 p.m.