After a stellar start to practices with two straight weeks of fair weather, the Vashon Pirates baseball team fell victim to Mother Nature’s whims last week.

The season opening jamboree at Spanaway Lake High School on March 14 was a washout, as were games against Cascade Christian and The Bush School.

Monday, March 16, the team found sunshine at Marymoor Park in a matchup against perennial powerhouse Cedar Park Christian. Vashon won the contest by a decisive 11-5 score, with junior left-hander Logan Hawkins picking up the win.

In the early innings, the team struggled to find itself offensively, but the bats came alive in the fifth, and the Pirates never looked back.

Senior Josh Myer opened the game pitching a strong inning and a third before giving the mound and a tight 0-1 score to Hawkins, who pitched through the fourth inning and allowed no further runs.

Sophomore Ashton Dulfer came in to pitch the top of the fifth and after allowing four runs, settled down and pitched solid sixth and seventh innings.

The Pirates broke out the bats in the fifth inning, batting through the lineup and scoring 7 runs. In the top of the sixth, the Pirates sent eight to the plate and extended their lead to 10-5, tacking one more on in the top of the seventh for the final score of 11-5.

Offensive highlights were Sam Schoenberg going 2 for 4, Clyde Pruett 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBIs, Logan Hawkins driving a ball deep to the fence, and Harper Whitney and Hawkins each also having 2 RBIs

The defense was strong all game, with center fielder Simon Perrin snagging several deep flies, and a key double play at second base got the Pirates out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth.

Head coach Steve Hall was pleased with the team’s performance.

“The boys played well. Our defense was perfect, and we were decent on the bases,” he said. “Even though we didn’t see their number one or two pitchers, it’s always great to get a win against them. They (Cedar Park) have gone to state the last two years and should be considered a top-five-in-state team. We have a lot of work to do, but we will take that start any time.”

— Cheryl Pruett is the mother of two Pirate baseball players.