Central Kitsap fastpitch lost at home to Bainbridge Island 6-2 in a non-league game last Friday.

The Cougars started off strong, with a home run in the first inning, but couldn’t hang on throughout the game. They would only score one more run.

Hitting didn’t seem to be too much of a problem for the team. Players were getting on base and stealing with a high rate of success, but bad luck and poor timing contributed to the low score, as the Cougars left a number of runners stranded.

Cougar head coach Bruce Welling said despite the loss, the team’s play was encouraging.

“I’m happy with what I saw,” Welling said. “I thought we did well.”

Third-baseman Emily Gorecki hit the team’s one home run in the first inning. Later in the game she reached first through a non-traditional method. Technically Gorecki struck-out, but when the catcher failed to cleanly receive the pitch the Cougar third-baseman became a live runner.

Gorecki took off toward first.

The Bainbridge catcher stood frozen at home, worried that the runner on third might make a move toward the plate.

After the game, Gorecki laughed about the play.

“I don’t like striking out,” she said, “but it always helps to run it out.”

Gorecki said she felt the team wasn’t yet playing at the level it could be, but would make it there with more time and practice.

The game was Central Kitsap’s fourth of the season, and the loss dropped them to 2-2 in non-league play. They previously lost to Puyallup in their season opener before beating North Kitsap and Olympic.

The Cougars were scheduled to play their first league contest in Port Orchard against rival South Kitsap on Wednesday.

South Kitsap first-year head coach Jessica Cabato is a former Central Kitsap player and assistant fastpitch coach.