The Vashon Pirates baseball team secured two Nisqually League wins by large margins last week to push their league and season record to 2-1.

On Thursday, they hosted the Charles Wright Academy Tarriers of Tacoma.

Making his second start on the mound for the Pirates was sophomore Tyler Bernheisel, throwing to classmate Peter Johnson behind the plate. Bernheisel came out a little shaky, allowing one run and loading the bases with only one out in the first inning. Finally finding his rhythm, he pulled things together and struck out two to retire the side.

Bernheisel continued to pitch good ball, striking out seven in four innings.

Senior Chris Pieterick took over in the fifth and appeared crisp in his mound debut. Keeping batters off-balance with a zippy fastball, change-up and good-breaking curve, he allowed only one hit and struck out three to finish the game by the 10-run mercy rule.

Just like in the Pirate opener against Chimacum, the Pirates brought their bats out against the Tarriers. Hitting around in the first inning, the Pirates put four runs on the board and still left three standing. In the second inning, doubles by freshman Julian Smith, junior Wes Paulsen and Pieterick, combined with two Tarrier errors, allowed the Pirates to tack on six more runs.

The Pirates also evoked the mercy rule the following day in their game against the Life Christian Eagles from Tacoma. Rumor had it that the Eagles were fielding a team with several eighth-graders. Physically, that appeared to be the case. From the opening pitch, it was clear Life Christian was overmatched.

Wes Paulsen started on the mound for Vashon. He went the distance in the mercy rule-shortened game, recording a two-hit shutout. Pirate bats, already looking strong, had a “batting practice” kind of day against Life Christian.

In assessing the game, Pirate coach Steve Hall remarked, “We took care of what we needed to do. Wes did a great job, pitching a two-hitter. We had some nice hits.”

Hall remains optimistic about his team’s chances for the season, especially if the Pirates can strengthen their pitching and mend some of the base running errors that cost them additional runs in the early games.

The Pirates host Cascade Christian at 4 p.m. today and play away at 7 p.m. Friday, April 3, versus Cedar Park Christian (at Inglemoor High School field) and at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Washington High School in Tacoma.

— Charlie Pieterick is the father of Pirate Chris Pieterick.