BI, SK out; NK, Bucs, Olympic still in playoffs

The West Central District 3 baseball tournaments began May 7 with North Kitsap and Kingston winning, while Bainbridge, Olympic and South Kitsap lost.

North Kitsap

North Kitsap survived a scare from Franklin Pierce, winning 2-1 in walk-off fashion, capturing a state berth.

The Cardinals pressured the Vikings by scoring a run in the top of the third inning. Greg Bock and Elijah Sledge started the inning with a pair of singles. Lucas Larson hit an RBI single to take the lead.

NK answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Tate Stearns hit an RBI double to score Spencer Gillespie.

Alex Elton became the hero with a flyball dropped by the right fielder, allowing Jonathan Borque to score the winning run.

The Vikings will play May 11 against Steilacoom at Central Kitsap High School.

Kingston

Kingston applied the mercy rule to Evergreen, defeating the Wolverines 13-3 in six innings.

Evergreen took an early 2-0 lead after a handful of singles and an error.

However, Kingston piled on the runs in the first two innings. Tristan Scott picked up an RBI single in the first and second innings while Aidan Matteson earned an RBI sacrifice fly, Jack Butler earned an RBI single, and Gavin Garner earned a 2 RBI double to make it 6-2.

“It was nice to finally get the bats going,” coach Ethan Goldizen said. “In the second half of the season, our bats have been quiet so it has been a point of emphasis. It was nice to see the hard work paid off.”

Peau Tameilau, Scott and Matteson earned three more RBIs in the third inning. In the fifth, Butler piled up a couple more RBIs. In the sixth, Jesse Bowen walked with the bases loaded for an RBI. With one out and Garner batting, Tameilau decided to steal home, sliding under the swing and tag to secure the victory.

Kingston will face Olympic May 8.

“I’m beyond excited because that was my alma mater so I want to kick their butts,” Goldizen said. “These guys know I come extra hungry against Olympic, and it will be a dogfight.”

Olympic

Enumclaw handled Olympic 12-5 in the first round, dropping the Trojans to the left side of the bracket.

The Hornets stung in the first inning with two RBI singles. Enumclaw scored its third run in the second inning with a walk with the bases loaded.

Olympic responded with two runs in the top of the third inning. John Hutchins and Colby Andrews drew walks while Cooper Burdick hit a single with no outs. Drew Walters earned an RBI from a walk, and Landon Nicholson got an RBI sacrifice fly.

Enumclaw piled up three more runs in the bottom of the third inning to make it 6-2. The Hornets added three more runs in the fourth inning, too.

For Olympic, Walters picked up his second RBI on an infield single, scoring Andrews.

Enumclaw added its final three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Olympic responded with a pair of runs in the top of seventh, but fell short.

The Trojans will face Kingston at home May 8.

Bainbridge

Bainbridge lost in the first round of the 3A West Central District 3 baseball tournament to North Thurston 3-2 in extra innings to get knocked out of the playoffs May 7.

Bainbridge finished with a 15-7 record.

North Thurston scored in the first inning with an RBI single from Kole French.

Later in the game, Spartan McCrea Curfman reached second base, and a couple of pitches later, Duncan Bos smashed the ball over the rightfield fence for a two-run homer.

North Thurston tied the game in the bottom of the sixth to make it 2-2. Neither team scored in the seventh, forcing an extra inning.

In the top of the eighth, Spartans AJ Larsen and McCrea Curfman reached first and second base with one out. With two outs, both runners advanced on a wild pitch, but they were left stranded.

North Thurston’s Tyler Chisa walked it off with an RBI single.

South Kitsap

South Kitsap was eliminated in the first round of the 4A district tournament, dropping a 4-3 game to Kentwood.

Kentwood scored two runs in the top of the second inning, thanks to a sacrifice bunt and single. The Wolves evened the score in the bottom of the second with Koi Castro’s 2 RBI single. Kentwood took the lead with its third run in the top of the fourth. South Kitsap’s Mason Williams RBI single tied the game. But Kentwood secured the victory in the top of the eighth.