Skip To Main Content

Prairie State College

Prairie State College
Calendar
Pedro Pinto
Chris Kuchta

Baseball Chris Kuchta

Lights Out: Pinto Sets New PSC Mark for Single-Season Saves

Former Pioneer Great John Rafferty’s School Record Falls After 13 Years

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. --- Fate has an interesting way of making things end up as they should.
 
When Prairie State head baseball coach Dre Gilmore signed Brazilian pitcher Pedro Pinto to a National Letter of Intent in 2023, he envisioned him toeing the rubber as a starter for the Pioneers.
 
Enter fate.
 
Pinto came to Prairie State and promptly injured his back early in the spring of 2024 after throwing just a handful of pitches.  He was still feeling less than his best after the fall exhibition season of that same year as well. 
 
He needed to redefine himself.
 
Gilmore had just the role.
 
Getting the final three outs of a tight game is arguably the toughest assignment in baseball.  Coaches just don't just charge any pitcher with that task.  But, Pinto took to it with ease.
 
So much so, that once Pinto recorded the 27th out in the Pioneers' 10-9 triumph over DuPage Wednesday afternoon, he crowned himself Prairie State's new save king.
 
Pinto, a power arm in every sense of the term, has now registered 11 career saves.

The native of Sau Paulo has worked 15 1/3 innings in 2025 and has recorded 21 strikeouts.
 
Pinto's new mark surpasses the standard set by former PSC sidearm legend John Rafferty, set in 2012. 
 
"Needless to say, I'm really proud of what Pedro has accomplished," Gilmore said. "I'm proud of him for hanging in there during his injuries, battling and giving us everything he's got.
 
"When we made him our closer, I knew his stuff was electric. He has a heavy fastball and a slider that is nearly untouchable.  What I didn't know is that he'd actually have enough opportunities to break the school record in saves."
Better yet, with the Pioneers on the verge of their first postseason berth in 11 years, Pinto's new mark may not be set in stone just yet. 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Pedro Pinto

#0 Pedro Pinto

P
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Pedro Pinto

#0 Pedro Pinto

Freshman
P

Scoreboard