The Vashon High School girls softball season came to an end in the first round of playoffs last Friday at Sprinker Field in Spanaway.
Overall the girls had their best season ever winning 8 games, losing 8 and tying one. That qualified them for a third place position in the Nisqually League playoffs.
The team faced Klahowya who is ranked second in their Olympic League.
Earlier in the season the Vashon Pirates played a non league game against Klahowya Eagles and won 12-9. The team was up for the challenge to face them again.
The game got underway at 6pm. The Pirates lead off with Senior, Delaney Anderson, who got to first on a baby bunt. She proceeded to steal to second and third base, but got left stranded while the rest of the batting order got out to retire the side. Klohowya tried to pound the ball, with batters one, two and three, but the Pirates defended and got each one out.
In the second inning Vashon could not get on base safely and the Klahowya pitcher struck out two swinging. Klahowya took advantage in the bottom of the second inning by batting through their order and scoring 7 runs.
Vashon Pirate Freshman, Chloe Kuyper pitched a heck of a game, but the Pirate defense went flat and they could not bounce back from the deficit.
Vashon managed to get on the board in the third inning with Anderson’s walk. Senior, Mallory Breen hit a double scoring Anderson but then three outs retired the side. Klahowya pulled in three runs in the third inning primarily from Pirate error defense.
Vashon tried to recoup in the top of the fourth with a double from Freshman, Mia Knight. Senior, Lilly Hennessey got a walk and Sophomore, Taylor Eastly pounded a solid hit up the middle scoring two RBI’s. Vashon battled back to keep the Eagles from scoring in the 4th.
In the fifth and final at bat for the Pirates, Anderson got a walk to first and proceeded to steal second base. Breen smacked a fly ball out to center for the out, but Anderson tagged up and scored crediting Breen for the RBI.
Junior, Hannah McArthur drove a solid hit to right that earned her a double.
Vashon was succeeding at a two out rally, but Knight got thrown out at first to retire the side. The score was now 4 to 10 with Klahowya coming up to bat in the bottom of the fifth.
Chloe Kuyper continued to pitch very well and got 2 batters out in a row. All Vashon needed was one more out, but Klahowya had dialed in with batters one, two, and three. They managed to score 4 runs from huge hits to the outfield to seal their win by ten running Vashon in the fifth inning.
Final score was Klahowya 14 to Vashon 4.
It was a bittersweet ending to a fantastic Pirate Softball Season, and although the team is losing 5 amazing Seniors, those ladies have helped to mentor six talented Freshman who will lay a path to continued softball success at Vashon High School.
Proudly Written by Head Coach Jackie Merrill
