The Vashon Pirates girls’ 12-and-under fastpitch team wrapped up a memorable season last week with a tournament, where the team won two games and lost one.

The girls play in the West Seattle Fastpitch league, and they had a winning season this year. The girls played 13 games this season and only lost four of them. They were sponsored by Barber and Beauty Shoppe.

The performance in the tournament and all season long was no surprise to the parents of the 12-and-under Pirates, a team made up of one fourth-grader, one fifthgrader, one seventh-grader, and 11 sixth-grade girls.

The core of the team has played together for three years, and some of the girls have been playing in the fastpitch league since second grade when they began in 8-and-under ball.

The girls were thrilled with this year’s performance, given a tough couple of years playing against the formidable teams of West Seattle. This year many of the girls improved their game because of special clinics focusing in on hitting and pitching.

Outstanding for the Pirates this year were the team’s two main pitchers, lead-off pitcher Meg Sullivan, who is a fifth-grader, and Emmaline Wittwer, a sixth-grader who lives in Kitsap County and commutes to McMurray. The Pirates also see critical support from starting catcher Mallory Breen as well as their solid infield, including shortstop Delaney Anderson and first baseman Lilly Hennessey. The Pirates are coached by Lauri Hennessey, assisted by Jay Hammond.

Seven years ago, the fastpitch league had active teams in 8-and-under, 12-and-under, and 14-and-under. For the last several years, younger players had not signed up. This year, while the 12-and-under team has continued, the league picked up two new teams in the 10-and-under league.

Some of the highlights for the Pirates this year included a fantastic mid-season home run from Mallory Breen and extremely quick pitching from Meg Sullivan. The Pirates wrapped up their season with a party last weekend at the Vashon Theatre, during which they saw a DVD (made by Bob and Lisa Breen) recapping their fantastic season and received awards, including most inspirational (Mallory Breen), most improved (Eva Anderson) and most valuable (Delaney Anderson).

The team includes Delaney Anderson, Eva Anderson, Mallory Breen, Tess Carman, Ally Clevenger, Rhea Enzian, Abby Hammermeister, June Hazelton, Lilly Hennessey, Aubrey Kraabel, Maddie McEachern, Sasha Reed, Meg Sullivan and Emmaline Wittwer.