Thanks to undefeated Charles Wright, the Vashon boys soccer team secured second place in the Nisqually League, giving the Pirates a potentially much easier early playoff schedule.

While Vashon was losing 4-0 to the fired-up Orting Cardinals last Tuesday, the Tarriers were pounding Cascade Christian by the same score. Final standings have Charles Wright in first with 30 points, Vashon second with 18, and Cascade Christian and Orting tied for third with 17.

Orting and Cascade Christian, tied in their regular-season games, played a tiebreaker to determine seeding. The result of that game was not yet posted on Monday. Other first-round playoff pairings depend on Port Townsend’s Olympic League standings.

With the second-place Nisqually League finish, the Vashon High boys soccer team appears headed to state. Because Port Townsend is the only 1A team in the 2A/3A Olympic League, it joins Vashon, Charles Wright, Cascade Christian and Orting in playoffs for seeding to the bi-district tournament. The Olympic League regular season will not be over before district playoffs begin, so the West Central District board was to announce on Tuesday where Port Townsend will fit in the district playoffs.

It appears that Vashon will play at Sumner Stadium on Saturday, May 9, at 4 or 6 p.m. Depending on the board’s decision, the Pirates could play on Wednesday, May 6, at a time and location to be announced.

After this week’s games, the West Central District teams play Northwest District teams for seeding and final entries to State.

Call the Vashon High School sports line, 463-9171 ext. 684, for the latest information.

— Rik Forschmiedt is a retired Beachcomber sports editor.