BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — In Monday’s Battle of Agate Pass, it was Bainbridge pitcher Nick Shutz who held the North Kitsap Vikings baseball team to just two hits in Poulsbo.
On Wednesday at Bainbridge, it was Viking pitcher Dan Peck’s turn.
The NK senior held the Spartans to just three hits on the day, throwing a complete game shut-out and striking out two along the way, as NK defeated Bainbridge 7-0.
He also held his own at the plate, going two for three, including a double in the seventh inning.
“Give Daniel Peck kudos for the way he threw the ball today,” said Vikes’ head Coach Steve Frease. “At this point, pitching is ahead of hitting.”
“(Peck) kept the ball down on us,” said Spartan coach Jayson Gore. “And our wheels came off in the fifth.”
The top of the fifth for North Kitsap would indeed see the Spartans’ proverbial wheels coming off — two crucial errors in the inning gave NK extra chances to remain in a two-out inning.
Viking Jordan Henry drew a one-out walk in the fifth, and a throwing error by Bainbridge pitcher Kevin Roach to get Henry back to first misfired, putting Henry all the way around to third.
With two outs, after Roach struck out Kyle Sizemore, North’s Travis Tobin grounded the ball to Adam Knappe at shortstop — who couldn’t make the play — and NK was on the board, with Henry crossing home plate.
After Peck and fellow Viking Jared Prince drew walks, the bases were loaded for catcher Marcus Curtis. Curtis took the opportunity, hitting a line-drive double that scored Tobin and Nic Stearns, who was pinch running for Peck.
“It was a sitting fastball,” Curtis said, “(Roach) slowed his arm up and I saw a change-up coming.”
Vikes’ Jeff Camus would strike out — but a throwing error to first saw Camus run out the throw to get to first. Both Curtis and Prince scored.
NK’s Andy Sturza flew out to end the inning.
North added runs in the seventh, with Peck hitting a double to right-center and with Roach walking Curtis. Once again with two outs, North’s J.B. Kandoll hit a bloop single into shallow center that scored two more runs.
Bainbridge had chances to rally in the bottom of the seventh, with Spartan Ryan Magraw hitting a double to left. But three more generated ground balls that inning by Peck sealed the fate of the Spartans.
In the game for NK, Tobin went 2 for 4 with one RBI and Kandoll went 2 for 4 as well with two RBI. For Bainbridge, Knappe went 1 for 3 with a double, Magraw was also 1 for 3 and Zach Peach was 1 for 2.
“It was a good recovery from Monday,” NK’s Curtis said. “It proves we can come back after anything.”
