Highline Baseball Drops Close Game to Bellevue

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April 10, 2024

April 8 Game Recap: Pirates lose to Wolverines 6-2 . Next Game TODAY (Wed.) at 3:30pm.

by Jake KnightBurien-News Sports Writer.Highline Pirates entered Tuesday with a 5-5 record overall, all five of their wins coming against league opponents. They tried to secure their elusive first non-league win against the 3A Bellevue Wolverines Tuesday afternoon, but came up short, losing the contest 6-2.Bellevue came out of the gates strong against Highline’s ace, Trenton Savage. The first two batters walked then singled before a throwing error on a ground ball to third brought in the game’s first run. A sacrifice fly to center field brought in the second, but Savage limited the damage with an inning-ending strikeout.The lethal one-two punch consisting of Roman Easter and Hawke Hansen at the top of the Pirates order responded quickly with back-to-back doubles to start the bottom half of the inning, cutting the deficit from two to one. Easter and Hansen came through yet again two innings later. With one out in the third, Easter singled on a line drive to left followed by a ringing double down the left field line off the bat of Hansen. A good relay cut down Easter at the plate, but the catcher airmailed a throw trying to nab Hansen advancing to third, allowing the tying run to come in and score.(Hawke Hanson's double - 4/8/24 against Wolverines)[videopress FNdLD8Lr]“Their success doesn’t happen by accident; they’re dedicated players,” head coach Jonny Locher said, discussing the success of his top two hitters this season. “They apply their work ethic in the offseason and they are always getting extra work in.”Savage settled in quickly after a rough first inning, tossing four consecutive scoreless innings in response. Some innings were easier than others, but when Savage was faced with a jam, he attacked hitters and evaded potential damage extremely well. Locher also had high praise for how the lefty has performed.“Trenton has improved his command and has really taken a big step this year,” he said. “He definitely faces adversity on the mound, but he is sticking with the game, pitching through adversity and throwing strikes. I think his composure has come a long way.”[caption id="attachment_15926" align="aligncenter" width="578"]

Trenton Savage pitching - Pirates v. Wolverines 4/8/24 (image courtesy of Jake Knight)[/caption]Although Highline hung with higher-division Bellevue for most of the game, the Wolverines broke through against Savage in the sixth inning. Cal Zimmerman led off the top of the sixth with a rocket to left-center field. Highline center fielder Zennen Luiz bobbled the ball after fielding it off the fence, which was the difference between keeping Zimmerman on the basepaths and allowing him to come all the way around to score and break the 2-2 tie. Bellevue continued to knock the ball around, and Highline had trouble taking care of the baseball, resulting in two more runs in the inning before Bellevue would tack on another in the seventh off Hansen in relief.“The outfield started off strong, then we just made some mental mistakes in the outfield that were uncharacteristic,” Locher said.The Pirates were unable to tack on after the third and later fell to Bellevue 6-2. Locher compared facing a 3A team like Bellevue to the competition they will have to face in the playoffs and was pleased with how his squad stacked up against the tough opponent.