The Pirates collided with the Klahowya Eagles, arguably the best team in the league, three games in a row on April 14, 19 and 21.

Klahowya’s team was able to throw their ace pitcher, Aiden Michael, twice against Vashon, and he held the Pirates to two hits in the first outing, three in the following, and scoreless in both. Vashon dropped the middle game and was swept by the Eagles.

The Pirates had to step into the box on April 24 against another dominant pitcher, Bellevue Christian’s Taylor Franklin — a senior who is now committed to George Fox University. Having already defeated the Vikings once this year, the Pirates took the field at Marymoor Park on a mission, and it showed, with some stellar defensive plays by Maxwell Delgado-Williams, Finn Magonegil and Chase Bradrick.

Bradrick gobbled up grounder after grounder at third base, keeping the Pirates in the game. Charlie Walker pitched a solid complete game with only one earned run, but Franklin pitched a gem for the Vikings and led them to a 0-5 win over the Pirates.

The first game of a doubleheader against Charles Wright Academy on April 26 was a nail bitter. Finn Hawkins took the mound against a much-improved Tarriers team. Vashon ran into a few outs and couldn’t string hits together for a run early. The Terriers took the lead with a run in the fourth inning, and the game went into the last inning with Vashon down.

Then Vashon rallied in their last chance at a bat as Magonegil hustled out a dropped third strike to get on base. Delgado-Williams drew a walk and Walker hit a line drive single to score Magonegil to tie it. Senior Will Weber stepped to the plate and crushed one to the gap, and scored Delgado-Williams for Weber’s second walk-off hit of the season.

The second game of the doubleheader was in control from the start with Vashon putting up four hits in the first inning and three more in the second. Jack Harvey started for Vashon and only gave up one run. Will Frith closed the last inning with three up, three down, and the Pirates chalked up two wins on the day.

The third game against Charles Wright Academy, on April 28, required another late-inning rally. Walker started and only gave up thre earned runs, but the Pirates once again could not string together the hits to scratch out a run until the fifth inning, when they scored two hits.

Going into the last inning, Vashon was down 4-2, and once again, the bats came alive at the very end of the game. Hawkins and Walker drew walks. Weber was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Harvey singled to drive in a run. Bradrick reached on an error and Walker scored. Frith hit into a fielder’s choice, and Weber scored. Sebastian Gallez reached on another error and Harvey scored. Again, the Pirates found a way in the late innings and go up 6-4. Frith took the mound for the close and shut down the heart of the Terrier’s lineup three up, three down for the win.

The Pirates roll into the last week of the regular season 8-6, looking to improve that mark and hit the playoffs running.

”It’s not if, but when,” Coach Simon Perrin said. “We just need to make the right adjustment. And now it is just about preparing for the playoffs.”

The Pirates play at 4 p.m. on May 3 at home against Seattle Christian, and again at 5 p.m. on May 5, away, against Seattle Christian.