The Cougars of Cascade Christian and the Vashon Pirates opened 2008 Nisqually League play yesterday with an exciting pitcher's duel eerily similar to a game played on 4/13 of last year between these two teams. Unfortunately for the Pirates, unlike last year's 3-2 win, this game would end in a 2-0 defeat. The opposing pitchers were Micah Deibell for Vashon and David Lidyard pitching for Cascade Christian. The same two pitchers faced off last year. Yesterday Deibell had 11 strikeouts-last year he had 10. The Cougars scored two runs in both games while Vashon had only three hits in each game. Lidyard (a Junior) walked the bases full in the first inning of both games. In last year's game, the Pirates scored all three runs, benefiting from a single and an error. Yesterday, however, they stranded all three runners. And they would strand seven more runners before the afternoon was over. Both pitchers went the distance yesterday and they both pitched very fine games. Deibell scattered six hits and four walks. The two runs he allowed were scored in the second inning and came by way of Pirate errors. Lidyard had 10 strikeouts and walked seven batters. The Pirates three hits were all singles coming from Deibell, Matt Amick, and Nathan Ott. Coach Steve Hall's starting lineup yesterday was as follows: Chris Pieterick (ss), Justin Calhoun (2b), Chris Allman (cf), Tom Schumaker (c), Geran Webb (lf), Deibell (p), Amick (3b), Ott, (1b), Adam Powelson (rf). Defensively, Vashon turned two very nice double plays, and Allman gunned down a runner at the plate in the 7th inning with a rifle throw from center field. The Pirates hope to warm up their bats before their next game on Wednesday (3/19) at home against Charles Wright. Come on out, grab a hot dog or burger at the Pirate snack shack and cheer on your team!
