The Central Kitsap High School Cougars went against the Peninsula High School Seahawks Wednesday, April 30. Before the game, Peninsula players studied starting pitcher Jackson Brady throw his warm-up pitches to catcher Riley Kolda. This game was Central Kitsap’s Senior Night, their final home game of the season that celebrates graduating seniors.
After previously being on a three-game win streak, Central Kitsap went into Wednesday’s game with high hopes to keep their run of victories alive. Even with a strong defense in the first inning, Central Kitsap fell behind by two runs, and despite their players’ determination, they were unable to score any runs themselves.
“We played well defensively, we threw the ball pretty well; [we] just didn’t get much offense going,” head coach Justin Brien said.
Even though there wasn’t much offensive action, Leo Bosh hit a double into left field, putting himself in scoring position. Despite his double and eventual advance to third, the next batters in rotation were not able to send him home with a run batted in (RBI).
Both teams showcased strong defense, and by the fourth inning, Peninsula only managed to score one more run over Central Kitsap. Even with the lack of runs given to Peninsula, their resilience at the plate proved enough when six of their players made at least one hit each.
“[They] just never quit,” Brien said. “The guy’s fight. We played well defensively; just didn’t get much offense going.”
First baseman Brayden Vartanian made two quick outs in the third inning and another in the fifth. On the mound, Brady threw lots of strikes and assisted in outs at both first and home.
Despite their loss, players were pleased with Brady’s performance on the mound. His ability to perform under pressure had proven to win over the respect of his teammates through the course of the season.
“Just throwing strikes on the hill, you know, getting the job done,” outfielder Andrew Baisler said.
The end of the season is a time for teams to reflect on how they have performed throughout the year. Through the hard lessons via losses and the triumphs of victories, there’s no doubt that there is a bond built between players and coaches.
