The Pirates’ baseball season closed with a loss to Seattle Christian on May 7.

First, the Pirates traveled to Steilacoom on April 29 and came away with a 12-2 non-league victory. The game was a tune-up for the Nisqually League playoffs. Matt Amick was on the mound for the visiting Pirates.

At the end of two innings, the game was tied 2-2, but Vashon exploded for five runs in the third and another five runs in the fourth to put the game away. The contest was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

Hitting stars were Matt Dick, who was three for four with a double and four RBIs, Wes Paulsen, who went three for three with two RBIs, and Julian Smith, who was two for four with a double.

At the end of the game, Vashon had racked up 12 runs, 12 hits and one error, while Steilacoom notched two runs, seven hits and four errors.

The Pirates then went on to defeat Charles Wright 3-0 on May 4 at the University of Puget Sound. Tyler Bernheisel pitched an inspired one-hit, 12-strikeout complete game shutout.

The Pirates jumped on Charles Wright with two quick runs in the first inning. Wes Paulsen reached on an error and advanced to third on a double by Matt Amick, who was two for three on the day. Both scored on a two-RBI single by Joe Gilmour.

The Tarriers shut down the Pirate offense until the fifth when Amick singled and then scored on a hit by Bernheisel, who was also two for three.

Vashon earned three runs, eight hits and two errors. Charles Wright got no runs, one hit and one error.

With the win, the Pirate’s advanced in the Nisqually League playoffs to face Seattle Christian for a chance to compete in the Tri-District tournament, but regrettably, came up short.

The Pirates lost to Seattle Christian 9-5 on May 7 at Charles Wright Academy in a one-game playoff with the winner advancing to the Tri-District tournament.

Vashon was in control of the game through the top of the fifth inning as starting pitcher Julian Smith kept the Warrior hitters off-balance with his mix of off-speed pitches. He was relieved by Wes Paulsen in the sixth.

The Pirates scored one in the first, one in the second, two in the third and one in the fifth for a 5-3 lead. Seattle Christian kept the pressure on, scoring two in the fifth to tie the game 5-5.

The Warriors brought in their hard-throwing senior Derek Weston, who held the Pirates scoreless in the sixth and seventh. Seattle Christian scored four in the bottom of the sixth to take the game.

Hitting highlights included a triple by Tyler Bernheisel, who was two for three, and two doubles by Smith, who went three for four on the day.

Vashon earned five runs, eight hits and one error; Seattle Christian got nine runs, 14 hits and two errors.

With the loss, the Pirates ended their season in a talented Nisqually League.

All three teams finishing ahead of the Pirates in the league made it through regionals and advanced to the state playoffs.

— Rita Allman does Web and team support for the Pirates.