Vashon falls to Orting
On Tuesday, May 3, the Pirates baseball team started a busy four-game week by hosting Orting in what turned out to be a pitching duel.
Tyler Bernheisel took the mound for Vashon and gave up only three earned runs on six Orting hits. But two Pirate errors led to two additional Cardinal runs. Vashon was only able to string together five hits on the day, leading to three runs and ultimately a 5-3 loss.
For the offense, Pirate Peter Johnson was two for three and scored two runs. Julian Smith was one for three with a double, and Matt Dick and Ben Reoux each added a single.
Line score: Orting 5 runs, 6 hits, 2 errors, Vashon 3 runs, 5 hits, 2 errors.
Pirates win a wild one
The next day the Pirates traveled to Seattle Christian for a hitting duel with the Warriors.
Smith pitched seven innings, leading to a 10-10 tie and extra frames.
The Pirates wasted no time in pushing over a run in their half of the eighth, and Erik Powelson came in and pitched a scoreless half inning, securing the playoff clinching victory. Johnson was a hitting machine, going 5-5 with two doubles, two steals and three RBIs.
Smith had two hits, including a towering grand slam, and four RBIs. Tyler Bernheisel added to the attack with three hits, including a two-run home run of his own. Ezra Lacina chipped in with two hits, and Dick,
Michael Bernheisel and Gus Dierks all had single hits.
Line score: Vashon 11 runs, 15 hits, 3 errors, Seattle Christian 10 runs, 11 hits, 1 error.
Cowboys pound Pirates
The Pirates’ happiness from the previous victory was short-lived, as on Thursday, May 5, Vashon traveled to Chimacum to face the state’s top-ranked team and the Nisqually league champion Chimacum Cowboys. The game ended in the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule, with the Pirates on the wrong end of an 11-1 score.
Reoux started on the mound for Vashon and pitched all five innings. As they have all season, the Cowboys pounded the ball, collecting 11 runs and 13 hits along with two long balls. Offensively for the Pirates, Johnson was two for three, and Dick and Zack Drape each added a hit.
Line Score: Chimacum 11 runs, 13 hits, 1 error, Vashon 1 run, 4 hits, 1 error.
Pirates pounded again
In a story similar to the previous game, Vashon was once again humbled by a Nisqually League opponent. This time out it was the Cascade Christian Cougars who did the honors, as the Pirates fell 14-2 on their home field on Friday, May 6.
The visiting Cougars scored early and often, thus evoking the 10-run mercy rule in the fifth. En route to their 14 runs, Cascade collected 12 hits, including four towering home runs. Pirate highlights were absent in this shellacking. The only bright note of the day for Vashon was the brief Senior Day ceremony as the team honored Johnson, Tyler Bernheisel, Dick and Dierks for their time served on the diamond.
The loss evens the Pirates’ final league record at 6-6 for a fourth-place finish, and drops their overall record to 7-8.
Line score: Cascade Christian 14 runs, 12 hits, 1 error, Vashon 2 runs, 5 hits, 1 error.
The Pirates will have to regroup quickly if they are to have success in the playoffs. Today they will travel to Chimacum to play the opening round of playoffs with the winner going to state and the loser playing a potential doubleheader on Saturday, May 14, in Bellingham. The loser will have to win both games to qualify as the fifth seed into the state tournament. Lose either game and the Pirates go home.
— Rita Allman does web and team support for the Pirates.
