A first-inning two-run home run by senior Max Hanson was the only hit for the Capital baseball team in a 10-7 loss to Central Kitsap in its Puget Sound League opener in Silverdale Wednesday.
Hanson smoked a pitch over the left field wall to score Tanner Barker, and the Cougars scored two more runs thanks to four straight walks and a hit batter.
Central Kitsap immediately responded in the first inning off of Capital starter Lane Nixon. The home Cougars loaded the bases with no one out before Grant Lin brought all three runners home with a triple. On the next pitch, Brayden Vartanian tripled to score Lin and tie the game at 4-4, chasing Nixon from the game before Capital got its first out of the frame.
Central Kitsap took the lead on a sacrifice fly in the first, but Capital jumped back in front in the second via more poor pitching from CK. Four more walks and a hit batter turned into two runs and a 6-5 advantage for Capital.
Central Kitsap tied the game in the second and took the lead in the third on a two-run single. Another two-run single padded its advantage in the fourth, and Capital loaded the bases in the sixth but could only chip away with one run.
Capital (0-3, 0-1 Puget Sound League), which has not yet played a home game, will remain on the road with a bout against Silas at Hunt Middle School Saturday afternoon. The Cougars’ first home game will be Wednesday, March 25 against North Thurston.
