Pirates wrap up first season

MOSES LAKE — In their final contest of the 2006 season, the Pirates were defeated by visiting Kelowna 8-5 Sunday. Despite the loss Sunday, Moses Lake took the series from the Falcons after posting a 2-0 win Friday and rallying for a 5-4 victory Saturday.

The team finished the season in sixth place in the eight-team WCCBL with a 16-26 record. The Pirates' 16 wins was the top total by an expansion franchise in the history of the league.

After a rough stretch in the middle of the season, Moses Lake finished up the year with a 6-6 record in their final 12 games. Pirates' coach Gabe Boruff was content with the team's finish, and cited the play of Brett Munster and Billy Krause as key to the team's improvement down the stretch.

"Some kids really came on in the last 12 games," said Boruff.

The Pirates' first season was a success not only on the field, but in the community as well.

"The community has been great," said Pirates owner Amy Kirwan. "We couldn't ask for any better support."

Those sentiments were echoed by Boruff, who felt the town did an excellent job of getting behind the new franchise.

"The City of Moses Lake has done a wonderful job for these kids," said Boruff of how the community has embraced the Pirates' players. "For a small town, they've done it right.

"I would like to give thanks to Brent and Amy (Kirwan) and guest services for all their work," added Boruff. "These kids wouldn't have got the opportunity without them."

In Sunday's game, Boruff took the opportunity to get as many of his players into the game as possible. Nineteen Pirate players saw action Sunday, including five pitchers.

Starting pitcher Chad Hunter worked out of a first-inning jam and the Pirates took a 1-0 lead when Munster scored on a Ryan Fobert RBI single in the bottom of the first.

With the score 1-0 entering the fourth inning, Hunter was pulled from the game and the Pirate bullpen took over pitching duties.

"I was trying to end the season on a good note and let everyone work," said Boruff of the decision to limit Hunter to three innings.

In the fourth, Kelowna scored four runs to take the lead for good. While the Pirates scored a pair of runs in the fifth to cut the Falcon lead to 4-3, Kelowna answered with four more runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.

On Friday, Moses Lake's Jordan Moore allowed only three hits over eight innings as the Pirates defeated Kelowna 2-0.

In Saturday's contest, Kelowna jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead, but a two-out rally in the fifth inning resulted in five runs and the win for Moses Lake.

While the 2006 season has just come to an end, preparations are already underway for next year. Pirates' owner Brent Kirwan said while there may be a few small changes in store for next season, no major changes are anticipated.

Kirwan expressed his interest in bringing back the same coaching staff next summer, and Boruff is looking forward to a return to his head coaching role.

Information on the Pirates' 2007 campaign should be available in early September at the Pirates' website, www.mlpirates.com.