After losing three and winning one of their first four games this season, the Pirate baseball team defeated Cascade Christian on their home turf on Friday.
Pitchers had a tough day as the two teams combined for 22 hits (including seven extra base hits) resulting in 21 runs.
Kelly Sullivan started the game for Vashon and pitched the first three innings. Logan Hawkins came on in the fourth and threw the next three innings, and Josh Myer pitched the seventh. The trio gave up 13 hits and three walks and combined for five strikeouts. Only three of the 10 runs were earned due to the six errors committed by the Pirate’s porous defense.
In the top of the first, Cascade Christian grabbed the early lead, 1-0. Vashon retaliated with two runs in the bottom of the inning, when they scored on an error and an RBI single by Myer.
The Pirates built upon their lead with five runs in the second. Cascade Christian put up a three spot in the third, but Vashon answered with two, making the score 9-4 after three innings.
The visitors chipped away at the lead with one run in the fourth and two in the sixth, narrowing the score to 9-7 after five and a half innings.
Vashon added two in the bottom of the sixth, taking a four-run lead into the final frame. The Cascade team was not done scoring, however, and tallied three runs before the final out was recorded. The result was a Pirate win, 11-10, in a real nail-biter.
The Vashon offense was sparked by Ezra Lacina, Michael Bernheisel and Ryan Bernheisel, all of whom were two for four on the day.
Lacina belted two doubles, Michael Bernheisel had a single and a triple, and Ryan Bernheisel added a single and a double. Colton Alberthal, Zack Drape and Myer each contributed a single to the hit total.
Line score: Cascade Christian 10 runs, 13 hits, 8 errors. Vashon 11 runs, 9 hits, 6 errors.
The Pirates are now 2-2 in Nisqually League play and 2-3 overall.
The Pirates played Eatonville at home on Monday after press deadline. They’re scheduled to play away games against Charles Wright today and Chimacum on Friday.
For summaries of the first four games of the season, visit www.vashonislandathletics.org
— Rita Allman does team and web support for the Pirates baseball team.
