Vashon High School’s varsity baseball team accomplished their primary goal this season  when they made it to playoffs. 

Unfortunately, in their first playoff game, the Pirates were paired against the number-one ranked team in the state, the Chimacum Cowboys. On Wednesday, May 11, on a rain-soaked Chimacum field, the Pirates lost to the Cowboys, 12-2, in five innings.  

Coach Steve Hall used three different pitchers (Julian Smith, Tyler Bernheisel and Erik Powelson), but the trio was unable to slow down Chimacum in the decisive third inning, when the Cowboys put 10 runs on the board.  

The Vashon offense consisted of Smith and Matt Dick, who each had singles. Smith also walked and scored a run and Peter Johnson walked, and scored a run as well.

Line score: Chimacum 12 runs, 10 hits, 1 error, Vashon 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error.

On a sunny afternoon on Thursday, May 12, the Pirates took on a very strong Bellevue Christian team in a loser-out game at Marymoor Park.  

With senior pitcher Tyler Bernheisel taking the mound, Vashon was set to compete. However, the Bellevue hitters were just too strong, collecting 18 hits (including five doubles) in route to a 13-2 Bellevue Christian victory.  

Johnson and Ben Reoux led the Pirate hitting attack. Johnson doubled and scored a run, and Reoux  had a single and an RBI.

Joe Wald had two singles and scored a run, and Matt Dick had an RBI.  

Line score: Bellevue Christian 13 runs, 18 hits, 0 Errors, Vashon 2 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors.

The loss ended the Pirates’ 2011 season, with a final season record of 7-10. 

Reflecting on the season, Hall said he was pleased with the team’s hard work to achieve the playoff berth, adding that in the last few games they simply couldn’t match up to the talent they were playing.  

“I am very proud of how the boys fought hard every game and had a winning attitude all the way to the finish, and we hate to see such a good group of senior leaders go in Peter, Tyler, Matt and Gus,” he said. “But we are exited about the possibilities for the young group of guys that will be on the field next year.”

Next up for Pirate baseball will be the banquet and awards ceremony, which will officially bring the season to a close.  

— Jeff Johnson is the father of a Pirates baseball player.