The Vashon Pirate baseball team wrapped up a spring break road trip, losing two close games and emerging with a tie in extra innings. While still undefeated in Nisqually League play, the team’s overall record sits at 7-3-1.

Monday, April 11, the Pirates lost to Klahowya High School in Silverdale 6-5; Friday they held on for an 8-8 tie against Sequim in eight innings and Saturday they lost 8-7 after leading most of the game.

The team’s defense ranged from shaky to downright horrid, ultimately causing both losses and the tie. Amassing 13 defensive errors in three games behind good pitching and offense is not a recipe for success. What was amazing is that the defensive blunders didn’t result in total blowouts. The Pirates had been pitching, hitting and running well enough to be winning the games before the errors cost them the two one-run losses.

Pitching well for the Pirates against the Klahowya Eagles was junior Ashton Dulfer, who worked the first four innings giving up five runs with five strikeouts and one walk. Senior Sam Yates pitched the last two innings, giving up just one run. The Pirates had five errors and stranded 16 runners on base. Offensive bright spots were Jeremy Pilgrim-Stoppel, who contributed two hits, and Dulfer, who got on base three times and scored each time.

In a chilly and overcast game at Sequim High School, the Pirates scored eight runs on eight hits in eight innings. Four Pirates worked from the mound with senior Logan Hawkins getting the start pitching the first two innings. He allowed three runs on two hits with two strikeouts and just one walk. Sophomore Levi Myer saw his first throwing action of the year, working the middle three innings and giving up three runs on three hits and two walks. Dulfer tossed innings six and seven, allowing two hits and three runs with one strikeout and one walk. Pilgrim-Stoppel came in and closed it out in the eighth with no hits, no runs, one strikeout and one walk.

The team had six costly defensive errors and left 12 baserunners. The offense was working up and down the lineup with the hits scattered among seven batters. Simon Perrin and Chester Pruett each had two RBIs.

The game in Port Angeles was played under blue skies and balmy spring temperatures. Yates got the start and was impressive in his five innings. His curve ball was working like a charm, and he allowed only three runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Vashon was up 7-3 in the sixth when Myer took the mound. A couple of walks, three hits and two costly errors saw five runs cross the plate, leading to the final score of 8-7.

Vashon scored four in the second inning and then three in the sixth behind the hitting of Perrin, Harper Whitney and Pilgrim-Stoppel, who each had two hits.

For the most part, head coach Steve Hall was happy with the team’s effort.

“Two close losses and a tie I wouldn’t normally consider a successful week. But in this case, all three were non-league games against a couple of 2A playoff teams and 1A first-place Klahowya,” Hall said.

He said he was happy that everyone got to play, and that the team’s roster of pitchers each got time in the game.

“(We) executed well on offense. Sam Yates did a great job on the mound against Port Angeles, giving up only three runs through five innings. Unfortunately, we didn’t play defense well enough at key moments of all three games, which ended up being our undoing,” he said.

Hall continued to say that the team’s positive attitude through the tough games will serve it well during the rest of the season.

“What I really liked was the fact that we faced all kinds of adversity and we stayed positive and kept fighting for each other the entire way, and that will bode well for the final two weeks of league play,” he said.

The Pirates played at Charles Wright on Monday, April 18, and at home against Overlake Tuesday, April 19, with results after press time.

On Friday, the Pirates will play an important league game at Seattle Christian. Regular season league play will wrap up by April 29 with the post-season standings to be determined by three crucial games against Cascade Christian.

— Cheryl Pruett is the mother of two high school athletes.