The regular season ends in two weeks.
That means a heightened sense of urgency for a program in an unfamiliar predicament.
Right-hander Scott Schultz shutdown the Wolves for six innings to help Gig Harbor to a 7-2 win Wednesday afternoon in Narrows League play.
While South (4-7 overall, 3-4 league) is at risk of posting its first losing record since 1988, the league playoffs appear within reach. Even after losing twice against the Tides this week, the Wolves beat Foss 10-0 on Tuesday and are in second place in the Bridge Division along with Wilson after Wednesday’s games. Only Gig Harbor (8-3, 7-2) features a winning record in the division.
None of this makes South coach Jim Fairweather more content with the game’s outcome, though.
“I just think we wait too long to get fired up to play,” he said. “I don’t know what it takes to get these guys ignited.”
After a hitless first inning for both teams, the Tides scored three runs in the second off Wolves starter Ricky Johnson. First baseman David Bigelow led off the inning with a double to left-center field and third baseman Garrett Gallinger followed with a hit nearly in the same spot that also put him on second base. Bigelow scored on the play.
Designated hitter Lucas Marshall then followed with a fly ball into left field that appeared to be a routine out. But miscommunication between the shortstop and left fielder resulted in the ball dropping between them, and Marshall reached first base. Marshall later scored on a sacrifice fly from right fielder Carl Beck.
“We know we’re young and we understand there are going to be mistakes,” Fairweather said. “We’ve just got to be able to move onto the next thing and pick each other up. That all comes with maturity.”
Gig Harbor did not relent in the third inning when Schultz led off with a single and Bigelow followed by easily clearing the right-field fence for a two-run home run to give the Tides a 5-0 lead.
That was more than enough for the Oregon State University-bound Schultz. He allowed two runs and struck out nine batters in 6 2/3 innings.
“He’s probably one of the better pitchers we’ve seen,” South left fielder Mitch Cartwright said. “We were just struggling with his command of the ball.”
The Wolves did not get a hit off Schultz until the third inning when third baseman Zach Mendiola singled with two outs.
“They’ve got really good pitching,” Fairweather said. “But we just need to adjust better at the plate.”
The Tides scored one run in both the fifth and seventh innings. Beck had a lead-off double in the fifth and later scored on a single by Gallinger, who finished 2 for 3 with a double two RBI. Gig Harbor’s run in the seventh came when Marshall, who went 3 for 4, doubled to score Schultz.
But after watching Schultz throw 54 of 79 pitches for strikes and never sending more than four hitters to the plate through the first six innings, South avoided being shutout in the seventh.
First baseman Michael Nelson and pinch-hitter Easton Sartor both started the inning with walks. A one-out single by Cartwright, who went 2 for 3, scored Nelson. The Wolves’ final run came with two outs when Mendiola, who went 2 for 3, singled up the middle to score Jay Henson. Second baseman Tanner Romo then walked to load the bases and ended the game for Schultz. But Bigelow was able to induce shortstop Vince Sablan into a ground out to end the contest.
“We had a bad break in the first inning and then we waited until the seventh inning to get excited to play this game,” Fairweather said. “I told them somewhere in the middle you’ve got to be able to put all that together.”
And that consistency needs to happen immediately.
“The bell has been rung now because we’re in trouble,” Fairweather said. “We need to care about each other all the game like the last inning and good things will happen.”
Gig Harbor 7, at South Kitsap 2
Gig Harbor 032 010 1 — 7 11 0
South Kitsap 000 000 2 — 2 5 2
Scott Schultz, David Bigelow (7) and Parker Guinn. Ricky Johnson, Josh Fort (7) and Alex Sablan.
W-Schultz. L-Johnson.
Leading hitters:Carl Beck (GH) 2-4 2B; Bigelow (GH) 2-3 BB 2B HR 2 RBI; Garrett Gallinger (GH) 2-3 BB 2B 2 RBI; Lucas Marshall (GH) 3-4 2B RBI; Mitch Cartwright (SK) 2-3 2B RBI; Zach Mendiola (SK) 2-3.
