Highline failed in a myriad of ways on Saturday which resulted in a season ending face-plant.  The Pirates couldn't even score a single run in the two games falling 5-0 to Bonney Lake and 14-0 to Enumclaw.  There were no purple and gold highlights to report and nothing to take away from the day except maybe a head-scratching "what the heck happened."  For the first time since 2002, Highline did not even make it to the District Tournament.  This is probably not the way Highline's eight seniors wanted to bow out and certainly not the way the coaches wanted things to end.  A new regime will try to right the Pirate Ship next year. Hopefully the results will be  better.

Highline put a bow on the regular season with two games on Tuesday.  Tyee took a surprising 3-1 lead after one inning but the Pirates responded with eleven runs in the top of the second and went on to thwart the Totems 23-4.  Eleven HHS batters combined for seventeen base knocks.  Tyee pitchers also gave up four walks and three hit batters on the day.  Ryne Phelan got the victory from the mound throwing three innings and giving up just one run.  Erik Anderson had a productive day going two-for-two, driving in four runs.  The win gave Highline a 10-4 regular season record which secured third place and the #2 seed in the upcoming Sub-District tournament.

A huge home crowd was on hand for "Senior Night" and our old friends from Mt. Rainier proved to be spoilers once again.  Highline honored nine seniors and their parents in a pregame ceremony.   The game was tied 3-3 entering the seventh inning but a couple of errors and some balls with eyes plundered the Pirates who fell 4-3 to the Rams.  Highline had a shot in the bottom half of the inning but a line-drive ended it with two men on base.  Mitchell McCartney led the Pirates offensively going 2-for-3.

Highline's next action is 10:00 AM on Saturday morning in the Sub-District Tournament at Russell Road.   Bonney Lake is the opponent and the winner gets a spot in the District Tournament which starts on Tuesday.  The loser must play an elimination game Saturday at 1:00 PM also at Russell Road against Enumclaw. The following link will connect to the District Tournament Bracket.

http://www.wcd3.org/BA_3A_Bracket_12.pdf  

The Pirates got healthy over the weekend with a pair of Seamount League wins.  Evergreen was the victim on Friday night.  Highline scored 17 runs in the first two innings and coasted to an 18-6 victory.  Ryan Ward got the win on the hump and also cracked his first homer in an HHS uniform.  Danny Teja was back in the line-up and poked a "Grand Salame" in the second.  Ben Antush had three base knocks and 4 RBI's.  The defense was stellar in support of Ward's pitching as the Pirates improved to 9-4 in league, 11-4 overall.

Saturday found the Pirates crashing Kennedy's Senior Day and emerging with a 2-0 victory.  Cole Porter pitched the complete game shut-out allowing only one basehit.  He relied on the defense most of the day and they came through again with an errorless afternoon.  The Pirates scored two unearned runs in the second inning.  Cole singled to start things off.  Ryan Ward then doubled to deep left field and Erik Anderson's grounder was misplayed by the Lancer shortstop allowing two runs to score.  Kennedy threatened in the bottom of ther fifth but left the bases full when Cole got the final out on a strikeout.

The two wins secure a playoff spot for the Pirates.  The final seeding for the Sub-District tournament is still up in the air.  The only thing that is certain is Highline will be playing next Saturday either at 10:00 AM or 1:00 PM.  The next action is Monday and a 3:30 PM make-up game at Tyee.  Tuesday the Pirates host Mt. Rainier at 7:00 PM for our Senior Night Celebration.

Jacob Wydick pitched a gem but Highline couldn't close it out in the seventh and fell 2-1 to Hazen on Tuesday.  Leading 1-0 going into the final frame, a lead-off double and a walk put two men on with nobody out for Hazen.  A single knotted the score at one a piece and then with two outs the Highlander clean-up man plated the winning run and sent Highline to it's third straight loss.  Jacob went the distance but was tagged with the loss.  Highline base-running errors, once again hindered the cause.  The loss placed the Pirates into a tie for third place in the Seamount standings and a crucial, road make-up game with Kennedy on Thursday. Wednesday's game against Tyee was rained out and will be made up on Monday.

Highline  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    1  5  2

Hazen     0  0  0  0  0  0  2    2  5  2

In perhaps the most gutsy performance ever witnessed at a Pirate Baseball game, Jonny Locher set Highline's all-time, single game, strikeout record.  However, it was a very costly, losing effort as the Pirates could not produce enough offense to overcome Kennedy and fell 4-2 on Monday afternoon.  Jonny struck out seventeen Lancers in the complete game loss.  He threw 137 pitches and looked as strong in the seventh inning as he did in the first.  Even more impressive is that he did it with a broken arm!  He was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the second inning which fractured the ulna bone of his right arm.  He battled through the pain to finish off the game which was sadly, very likely his last one for the purple and gold.  He is out for a minimum of three weeks which means the rest of the team has to get the Pirates to the State Tournament before Jonny can get back on the field.  Jonny has been a warrior for this team for four years and it would be truly inspiring and impressive if his team mates can somehow deliver that ticket to the dance (State) to him for his senior season.  Difficult?...Yes.  Probably?...No.  Possible?...Definitely! It remains to be seen who will pick up the slack the remainder of the season.  The Pirates need to be a lot more potent offensively and a ton more intelligent on the base paths to make a serious run at the post season.  It begins tomorrow with a 3:30 game at Hazen.

Lindbergh put a quick stop to the Pirates shutout streak by scoring three runs on five base hits in the top of the first at Moshier on Wednesday en-route to a 7-4 win.  Highline responded with a run of their own in the first when Jonny Locher doubled, moved to third on a grounder then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.  The Eagles stretch the led to 5-2 in the fourth but then the Pirate bats came to life.  Doubles from David Erickson and Ryan Ward made it 5-3.  Justin Kemp singled to pull Highline within one but a base running blunder ended the threat.  Lindbergh added a pair of insurance runs and then shut down the Pirates the rest of the way.  Locher and Mitchell McCartney led the attack for Highline with two hits each.  The loss drops Highline two full games behind Lindbergh in the standings and must travel to Kennedy tomorrow (Thursday) for a 3:30 make up game with the Lancers.

Highline       1  0  1  2  0  0  0     4   7   1

Lindbergh    3  0  1  1  2  0  0     7  12  1

Eric's pictures from the game can be found here:

http://www.etdpi.com/Sports/Highline-Pirate-Baseball/20120418

     Pitching and defense came to the forefront once again as Highline turned in it's third straight shut-out.  Renton was the victim this time falling 13-0 to the Pirates.  Highline jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first.  Seven walks, a hit batter and a 2 RBI double from Ryan Ward did the damage.  Ryan also got the "W" on the mound going three innings and giving up just one base knock.  Jacob Wydick pitched the final two innings to preserve the shut-out.  Jonny Locher had a pair of hits including a triple.  Justin Kemp went 2-for-3.  The Pirates schedule gets tough for the next three games.  League leading Lindbergh comes to Moshier for a 3;30 game on Wednesday.  Highline then travels to Hazen on Friday before entertaining Kennedy on Monday April 23rd.  The four make up games have yet to be scheduled.

A few photos from today's game are on Eric's website here:

http://www.etdpi.com/Sports/Highline-Pirate-Baseball/20120413

Highline rode a big first inning surge then coasted to a 13-0 victory over Foster on Wednesday.  Seventeen Pirates came to the plate in the first and twelve scored on ten basehits.  Jonny Rhodes had the biggest blast with a two run homer (his third on the year).  Mitchell McCartney started on the bump and struggled a bit with his control but managed to escape his two inning stint with no runs having scored.  Freshman, Jordan Sagmoen came on in relief and pitched three scoreless innings to pick up the win.  David Erickson, Ryan Ward and Mitchell had two hits each for Highline.  The win improves the Rats record to 8-1 on the year.  Next up is a non-leaguer on the road against White River tomorrow at 4:00 PM.

Highline  12 0  1  0  X   13  12  0

Foster     0  0  0  0  0     0   4   3                                                                                         

Senior, Jonny Rhodes threw a five inning no-hitter against the Evergreen Wolverines on Friday striking out nine in the "mercy Rule" shortened contest. The win capped a 4-0 week for the Pirates improving their record to 7-1 on the season.  Highlines bats failed to produce the usual "big inning" and led just 5-0 after four.  But, the top of the fifth saw 11 Pirates come to the plate producing five runs and a 10-0 lead.  Rhodes struck out two batters in the bottom half of the frame to end it and send the Pirate Faithful home in a happy mood. Mitchell McCartney, Jacob Wydick, Erik Anderson and Ryan Ward had two hits each in the contest.  Jacob scored three runs on the day.  Next up for the Rats is a 3:30 PM Wednesday game at home against Foster.  On Thursday, April 12th Highline travels to White River for a make-up game with the Hornets and then finishes the week off with Renton at Moshier on Friday at 3:30.  No practices for the varsity are scheduled for the coming week in an effort to rest the weary arms.

Some amazing photos were taken by Eric Todd at the Safeco Field game and are available for viewing by clicking on the following link.  You may also purchase copies from Eric via his website.  http://www.etdpi.com/Sports/Highline-Pirate-Baseball/20120405

HIGHLINE        2  1  0  2  5      10-11 - 0

EVERGREEN     0  0  0  0  0       0 - 0 - 3

WP:  Rhodes  4-0    LP:  Charles

The Pirates improved their overall Safeco Field record to 4 and 1 with a 4-3 win over Foss on Thursday night.  The score shouldn't have been that close as the Falcon's came up with an array of dazzling defensive plays to thwart Pirate rallies.  Highline had a few "webgems" too, most notably a pair of them from second baseman Mitchell McCartney including the game-ender.  Mitchell also had an RBI single to start the scoring for the Pirates in the top of the first.  Ryan Ward started on the hill and was relieved by Jacob Wydick in the third.  Jacob got credit for the win thanks to a two-run fourth inning.  Justin Kemp led it off with a double, stole third and came home on a wild pitch.  Jonny Locher walked, stole second and was plated by Jacob's line drive single which made it 4-2.  Foss answered with a run in the bottom of the frame but that was all the scoring for the night.  Jordan Sagmoen threw two strong innings and Jonny Locher closed it out with his second "save" of the week.  Highline will try to make it a 4-for-4 week with a visit to Evergreen today at 3:30 PM.