NK opens districts with dominant win over Clover Park

North Kitsap wanted to keep Clover Park on its heels going into a loser-out game in the first round of districts May 12, and the Vikings did just that, pouncing from the get-go to earn an 11-0 home victory and extend their season.

The No. 5 seed Vikings will now play at No 4 seed Franklin Pierce March 13 after this newspaper’s deadline, with the winner advancing to the district semifinals.

NK entered districts coming off five consecutive losses, four of them coming against OL teams. NK averaged 2.2 runs scored per game during that span, a season low for the squad.

“We want to come out and, you know, put a zero on the board and then try to throw some runs up there on the other team and put the other team on their heels,” Viking coach Jeff Weible said.

NK got out to a strong first inning with right fielder Noah Wendt singling to left field, leading to NK scoring six runs and going through their entire lineup in the inning. NK tallied seven total hits in the inning.

Viking starting pitcher Tate Stearns let up his first hit of the game in the top of the second after earning four strikeouts.

Stearns added to his strong performance by hitting an RBI double in the bottom of the second. NK continued its scoring ways from the first, adding an additional three runs by the end of the second inning and giving the Vikings a 10-0 lead entering the top of the third.

“I feel like a lot of the time over the past four games, we’ve been trying to hit home runs with no one on base,” Stearns said. “Today, we just went out, put the bat on the ball and things went our way.”

In the bottom of the fourth, NK shortstop Blake Sohlberg hit a deep double to right-center field and went to third base on a wild pitch, but was unable to get driven home, giving NK its first scoreless inning on the day.

Stearns was later taken out of the game to give relief pitcher Ryan Enright an opportunity to throw some pitches.

The Vikings closed out the victory with three consecutive outs.

“I think that when we come focused and play great defense and stuff, we can be as good as anyone in the state,” Weible said.