TACOMA — North Kitsap starting pitcher Jared Prince’s 12 strikeout, two hit, complete game shutout was a stellar outing that led to a 1-0 win Monday. The victory avenged the team’s Narrows League Championship loss the week before to the Olympia Bears.

But the key to victory likely came from North Kitsap’s backup pitcher, Kevin Gartin.

With North’s Jeff Camus on third base with two outs, Gartin hit a ground ball to Olympia shortstop Alex Barnes, who bobbled the ball. Gartin pounded his way down the first baseline, beating out the throw by a distance no greater than the length of the grass on the field at Heidelberg Park.

In the epitome of a pitchers duel between Prince and Olympia’s Matt Wyckoff, who held NK to four hits — Gartin’s extra efforts were invaluable, a main reason the Vikings are back in the state tournament, starting May 28.

“Kevin Gartin worked his butt off,” said North coach Steve Frease of the conditioning work the senior did in the off season. “And that was basically the difference in the game.”

Following a loss to Kentlake the same day, 7-4, in a game delayed by rain, the Vikings were on the brink of elimination, needing a win against the Bears to advance to state. Though NK only produced five hits on the night — the Vikings also hit 11 fly balls for outs and left 11 on base — Prince’s performance and a stonewalling defense made the sixth inning the only one that mattered.

Camus drew a walk off Wyckoff to begin the inning, and was advanced to third by Jordan Henry, who bunted out, and pinch hitter Ryan Anderson, who grounded out to first. Gartin’s grounder with two outs sealed the deal.

“It feels great,” Prince said of qualifying for the tournament. “The bats weren’t on fire but our defense was sure solid. And we live and die by that.”

Prince said his improved performance was due to a strategy change from the Narrows League Championship loss to the Bears 5-4.

“The first game, I just wanted to throw it past everybody,” Prince said. “This game, I mixed in a lot of different pitches.”

North Kitsap is now four games from a state-title and every game is a loser-out situation. Each contest could be the last for not only the team’s 11 seniors, but also Frease, who will resign the position following the season to focus on his new assignment as head football coach.

“I was thinking the entire game that I didn’t want to go home tonight,” Frease said, tears beginning to fill his eyes. “I didn’t want it to end right here. I think we’ve got some things left to accomplish.”