Arms race: Pirates' pitching keeps on rolling

MOSES LAKE — On an evening where strong, gusty winds were blowing straight in from center field, baseball teams need to rely on their pitching staffs.

That's exactly what the Moses Lake Pirates did Monday night to earn their fourth consecutive victory in non-league action to open the season, a 3-1 victory over the Olympia Athletics in the first of a three-game set at Larson Field.

University of Washington product Ben Guidos made his first appearance on the mound in 15 months and looked brilliant, holding Olympia to one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five. Loyola-Marymount's Lee Roberts got the final three outs and the save, courtesy of some good velocity and a nasty breaking ball.

Pirates head coach Gabe Boruff complimented Guidos on a great outing.

"He comes in here in his first game in over a year and I thought he did a hell of a job," Boruff said. "He settled down and just pitched within himself."

Moses Lake's pitchers have been nothing short of stellar in the first four games, holding Tacoma and Olympia to three combined runs.

"Throwing strikes are the key and that's what our pitchers are doing right now," Boruff added.

The Athletics picked up the game's first run in the second inning as Bryan Marquez drew a leadoff walk. Guidos struck out the next two hitters, but Joe Thibault popped a shallow drive into center field that Billy Swanson misjudged, allowing Marquez to scamper home.

Moses Lake managed just four hits for the game, but got the only runs it needed in the third without a hit. Olympia starter Scott Leshner plunked Swanson and Zach Kim to start the frame. A grounder advanced both runners, a wild pitch scored Swanson and Mike Capbarat's grounder brought in Kim.

The Pirates got their third run in the fifth after Kim singled with one out and stole second. With two outs, Big Bend Community College's Ryan Bernsen beat out an infield hit and allowed Kim to race home.

Olympia never seriously threatened after that, putting just one runner on base in its final four at-bats.

"I think we got a little tight — we're trying to do too much with the ball," Boruff said of his team's offensive struggles. "We'll take care of that when we get into league."

The teams continue their series tonight at Larson Field at 7:30 p.m. Moses Lake sends Dale Reneau to the mound as its starter. Reneau, who recently finished up a stint in the NCAA Tournament with Oral Roberts, was the Pirates' closer last season and Boruff said a non-league game is a good chance to try him out as a starter.