By CHARLIE PIETERICK
For The Beachcomber
The Vashon High School Pirate baseball team had two wins last week, one league and one non-league.
They defeated league rival Seattle Christian 5-3 and the Washington High School Patriots 5-4 in close games that weren’t decided until the last innings.
On Tuesday, April 1, the Pirates visited the home of league rivals Seattle Christian.
Senior Micah Deibel took the mound under rare sunny skies facing a chill north wind.
After giving up a run in the first, he held the Warriors scoreless until three consecutive Pirate errors allowed a second run in the fourth inning.
The Pirates scored 2 in the second, to take a 2-1 lead over the Warriors. Sophomores Matt Amick and Geran Webb reached base on a walk and a single. With senior Chris Allman up to bat, Amick and Webb advanced on a wild pitch. Allman then singled to bring them both around.
Seattle Christian regained the lead in the sixth. But the Pirates struck back next inning when Allman hit a 2-run homer over left-center.
Deibel added a solo shot later that inning to give the Pirates an insurance run.
Deibel, a southpaw, kept Warrior batters off balance, distributing 11 strike-outs over his five innings. He was relieved in the bottom of the sixth by junior Chris Pieterick who added 4 Ks in the 5-3 win.
On Saturday, April 5, the Pirates hosted the Patriots from South Tacoma.
Chris Allman was the starting pitcher for Vashon and dominated the Patriots early with his signature three-quarter-arm dancing fastball.
The Pirates struck first, mounting a 3-run third inning started by senior Adam Powelson who reached first base on a hustle play following a dropped third strike.
Back-to-back doubles by senior V. J. Ashbaugh and Pieterick scored two. Pieterick later reached home on a Patriot error to put the Pirates up 3-0.
Meanwhile, errorless Pirate defense kept the Patriots from scoring. Senior catcher Tom Schumaker gunned down runners at second and third, the latter play finished when senior third baseman Evan Bell dug out the ball and reached behind to apply the tag.
Pieterick relieved Allman on the mound in the top of the fifth, with the Pirates in a bases-loaded, no-out jam. The Patriots went on to score 4 runs to go up on the Pirates, 4-3.
Senior Justin Calhoun tied the score with a solo home run in the sixth. After retiring all three Patriot batters in the top of the seventh, Pieterick led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to center.
Then, with Deibel at bat, Pieterick played cat-and-mouse with the Patriot’s pitcher. He eventually forced a balk and advanced to second. A Deibel line drive to center brought Pieterick around for the winning run as the Pirates triumphed, 5-4.
The Pirates are now 2-1 in 1A Nisqually League play and 4-1 overall. Strong pitching and nearly flawless defense have been key to Pirate wins. With 5 runs on 9 hits against Seattle Christian and 5 runs on 7 hits against Washington, the Pirate bats appear to be peeking out from behind the clouds. Perhaps sunnier weather will permit them to flower.
