TACOMA — Following the first three games of the season, the North Kitsap Vikings baseball team lost only two games the rest of the year.
Unfortunately, last Monday’s regional playoff versus Lake Washington was one of them.
After a rain-out moved the team’s game against the Kangaroos to Monday in Tacoma, the Vikings went down by a 3-1 final count, in a game in which North pitcher Jared Prince gave up just two hits.
If there was any question that the game was won by a few breaks here and there, the three unearned runs the Kangs scored on NK was further proof.
“We just needed a break,” NK coach Steve Frease said, “and we haven’t gotten one yet.”
North Kitsap (18-4) put up six hits on the day, to the two Lake Washington managed to produce with Prince on the mound. The junior allowed just one outfield hit in a complete game pitched.
“He had command of every one of his pitches,” Frease said of Prince. “He threw very well.”
Lake Washington’s “break” came in the bottom of the fourth — putting together a bases-loaded inning with two of three runs coming on sacrifice flies. To make matters worse, North committed two errors and Lake Washington was able to get two close calls sliding into bases that could’ve gone either way.
“Each time, we dropped the ball or it was a really close play,” Frease said.
North Kitsap’s lone run came on Jeff Camus’ getting on base off an infield hit and stealing second in the top of the fourth. Miles Thompson drive him home. The Vikings also put together three doubles on the day, by Travis Tobin, Kevin Gartin and Dan Peck.
Blame for the loss cannot be pinned on any one individual, Frease commented.
“It wasn’t any one given kid or coach,” Frease said. “It was a collective effort and we managed to botch it up. We gave them outs and surrendered outs.”
Frease added that he hasn’t even thought about next year yet. Though he’ll have returning all but five seniors, the loss is difficult given how close the team has come on multiple occasions.
“The fact we were there and so close is a good experience,” Frease said. “I think (the teams in) ‘98, ‘00 and ‘04 each could have taken a state title.”
