The Vashon Pirates lost their first game of the season in an error-filled debacle against Cedar Park Christian on Monday, April 4, by a final score of 11-5, but rebounded with two solid wins over league rival Charles Wright on April 5 and 8. The team’s season record now stands at seven wins and one loss.
Vashon’s usually solid defense was on spring break during the Cedar Park game. With erratic play and not much on the offensive side, Vashon’s pitchers could not get enough field support behind their efforts.
Senior Sam Yates got his first start of the year working two innings, walking three, striking out three and having six runs cross the plate. Fellow senior Sam Schoenberg followed him on the mound working the last five innings, walking two, striking out two and allowing five runs.
Pirate offense was limited to one run scored in the fifth inning and four in the sixth.
Vashon’s lone bright spot on the day was a three-run bomb by senior Harper Whitney that brought the score to an interesting 5-7 before the Pirates gave up four runs in the top of the seventh.
With the loss behind them, the Pirates faced Tacoma’s Charles Wright Academy in back-to-back games on Tuesday, April 5, and Friday, April 8, winning both games. With their defense and hitting back on track, they outscored the Tarriers 24-8 over the two games.
At the home game on Tuesday, April 5, senior Jeremy Pilgrim-Stoppel worked the full five innings from the mound allowing just two earned runs, three hits, five walks and nine strikeouts.
The Pirates scored all 13 runs in the first four innings with junior Ashton Dulfer leading the charge at the plate going three for four with an RBI and three runs scored.
At the game on Friday at Charles Wright, Vashon’s pitchers were tested. The game seemed to be on autopilot through the third inning, then the wheels on the bus became a little wobbly. Dulfer was working on the mound and had been flawless through three when his control suffered and he had four walks and allowed three runs.
Schoenberg got the call and worked an inning and a third, walked a couple and gave up a three-run blast to powerhouse Tarrier Henry Cheney. With the score now a closer 10-6, Pilgrim-Stoppel came in and worked the remaining two and two-thirds innings shutting Charles Wright down allowing no more runs, one walk and five strikeouts.
Pilgrim-Stoppel also took control at the plate, knocking in three RBIs on three hits. The Pirates tacked on a late game run on an RBI by Chester Pruett to make the final score a respectable 11-6 win.
The Pirates have a busy spring break and played Klahowya High School on Monday, April 11, after press time.
The team will rack up a mid-season workout against five non-league competitors in eight days. On Friday, April 15, the team takes a road trip to Sequim, followed by a game against Port Angeles on Saturday. The next home game will be Monday, April 18, against Eatonville and Tuesday against Overlake.
— Cheryl Pruett is the mother of two Vashon High School athletes.
