Kitsap picks off Pirates in series opener

MOSES LAKE — Kitsap scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning and Moses Lake struggled at the plate as the BlueJackets stung the Pirates 5-0 Tuesday night.

Moses Lake hung with Kitsap for the first five innings before the BlueJackets rallied to drop the Pirates to 2-21 this season.

Kitsap’s win Tuesday night came in the first game of a three-game series at Larson Playfield.

Moses Lake starting pitcher Zane Bator (0-4) kept Kitsap scoreless for the first five innings before allowing three runs in the top of the sixth to get credited with the loss.

Although Bator lost his fourth game of the season, Moses Lake head coach Steve Keller said his starter pitched strong.

“Zane threw really well to start,” Keller said. “He got that first-pitch strike and didn’t go deep into batters. He kept the flow of the game going.”

Bator was tough to start the game, retiring the BlueJackets in order in the top of the first.

Bator was able to work himself out of possible jams in the second, third, and fourth innings before Kitsap was finally able to get to the right hander in the top of the sixth.

While Bator was impressive on the mound, the Moses Lake’s offense was not without opportunities.

Moses Lake threatened the BlueJackets in both the fourth and fifth innings.

The Pirates looked primed to take the lead in the fourth when shortstop Chris Casazza blooped a double into right field with one out. With Casazza on second, the Pirates moved him over to third before leaving him stranded.

Moses Lake threatened again in the fifth when second baseman Nathan Bobrowski hit a single.

Peter Kelly moved Bobrowski to third on an error from the BlueJackets. Bobrowski was unable to score and for the second consecutive inning the Pirates left a base runner stranded on third.

The Pirates had their opportunities Tuesday night and Keller said his team was capable of breaking the game open early.

“(We) just (missed) a couple of pitches,” he said. “Other than that we played well.”

Moses Lake kept Kitsap off of the scoreboard for the first half of Tuesday’s contest and Keller said his team deserved a better outcome.

“We played well for the first five, six, seven innings,” he said. “They were fun to watch. We played better than 5-0.”

While his team played better than the final score would indicate, Keller said his team needs to improve.

“We didn’t do anything extraordinary,” he said. “We didn’t do anything below average. It was just par for the day.”

The Pirates will host the BlueJackets tonight in the second game of a three-game series and Keller said his team needs to jump on Kitsap early.

“We need to come out with a sense of urgency to get that first run,” he said. “We had guys on in six of the nine innings tonight. We just need to get them across the plate to open the flood gates.”