Tides beat Lancers, stay alive in Narrows Bridge

GH fighting with South Kitsap with three games left

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

After losing two straight Class 4A Narrows League baseball games against Central Kitsap and South Kitsap, the Gig Harbor Tides got back on the winning side Friday by defeating the Lakes Lancers 9-1 in a non-league game.

The win gave the Tides steam for a strong finish with three games left after beating the North Kitsap Vikings 5-0 Monday on the road.

The Tides (11-4 overall, 8-3 Narrows League) are fighting for the No. 1 spot in the division. They have three games left — two against the winless Lincoln Abes and then Olympia, which is atop the Narrows Bay Division.

If the Tides win out, they could have the top spot headed into the district playoffs.

But if the South Kitsap Wolves win out, there could be a tiebreaker to determine the top two spots.

Against the Lancers (5-10 overall, 3-7 Western Cascade Conference), the Tides displayed consistent defense and power.

Gig Harbor senior pitcher Brandon Rohde (4-1) got the start and pitched two innings, giving up just one walk to earn the win.

The Tides scored first after catcher Drew Young banged a double off the left-field fence and second baseman Scott Benedict knocked in a run with a single.

Sophomore shortstop David Bigelow — who has been a hitting threat this year — doubled to left, sending left fielder Cameron Holcomb to the plate.

Holcomb singled to left and Bigelow was given the signal to score. Bigelow was out by at least two strides, but he ran into the catcher — jarring the ball loose from his glove — to give the Tides a 2-0 lead.

Leading 2-1, Gig Harbor got some help from Holcomb, who blasted a three-run homer to left to extend the lead.

Gig Harbor senior pitcher Bubba Brown came in for relief. The Lancers sat on multiple fastballs to score a run. But after a Lakes single in the top of the fifth, Bigelow stepped in to finish the game.

The following inning sealed the game as the Tides batted around in the sixth to add four more runs.

First baseman Mike Jones nailed a ball to deep left that hit the fence for a double. Right fielder Zach Pearson lined a single for an RBI. Then Nico Youngren hit another liner to center for an RBI.

Tides coach Pete Jansen said they hit the ball well.

“It was anybody’s game, but we finally got a big hit, and it was a cushion, making the game a lot easier,” he said, referring to Holcomb’s three-run blast.

The Tides committed just one error. The Lancers put the ball in play multiple times, but the Tides’ defense did its job.

Third baseman Mike Barnett contributed with a number of nice defensive plays. He said the win has given the team momentum.

“We rely on defense,” he said. “Cameron’s shot helped us out, but it was good to hold them close.

Holcomb said he was looking for a pitch to hit that would help his team out. On a 1-0 count, he sat on an offspeed pitch and drove it.

“The win builds confidence and keeps the team’s morale up,” Holcomb said.

Reach Sports Editor Marques Hunter at 253-853-9243 or marques.hunter@gateline.com.