David Perez hit a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning to hand North Thurston an impressive 4-3 victory over the 2025 2A state champion Bainbridge at Lake Washington High School Saturday.
The win is the second in a row over a quality opponent for the Rams, as they gave Peninsula its first loss on Tuesday.
“I’m proud of our team for getting a win against a very talented team,” North Thurston head coach Joe Meggs said. “I’m happy with how hard we played and how we stuck together for a full seven innings.”
Bainbridge put up the first run of the afternoon in the first inning against Rams starter Zachary Albright. With two outs, Henry Olsen drove in a run on a single. North Thurston responded in the second as Grady Wright doubled and then scored following a balk by Bainbridge pitcher Trey Thompson, tying the game at 1-1.
Both pitchers settled in, as Albright stranded multiple runners in both the second and third innings to keep the score deadlocked. The senior pitched himself into a scenario where he could give himself a lead in the fifth, drilling a solo home run to left field to break the tie. The clutch shot was the first homer of the season for Albright.
Bainbridge tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly that scored McCrea Curfman, who led off the frame with a double. But Albright finished his day by leaving the go-ahead runner at second base and striking out his final batter. Albright pitched five innings and allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three Spartans.
In the sixth, Perez reached on an error and Jordan Dircks singled to put runners on the corners with no one out. For the second time in the game, a Bainbridge balk allowed a Ram to score, as Perez came around to touch home for the go-ahead run.
Wright came in to relieve Albright in the bottom of the sixth, and the Spartans tied the game for the third time as Tenzing Dikman’s sacrifice fly knotted the score at 3-3 entering the final frame.
Albright led off the seventh with a walk, and with two outs and Albright at second base, Perez lined a single to left field to score his teammate and take a 4-3 lead.
The final three outs were challenging, as Wright allowed a leadoff single before the Rams infield turned a clutch double play on the ensuing at bat. Bainbridge put the tying run at second base on an Olsen double, and AJ Larsen popped out to close the ballgame.
“We were able to take advantage of some mistakes Bainbridge made, and we got clutch hits from Zach Albright and David Perez,” Meggs said. “Albright was fantastic on the mound, and our defense played outstanding all game.”
North Thurston (6-5, 4-4 Puget Sound League) will resume PSL action with a two-game series with River Ridge (8-4, 5-4 Puget Sound League) April 14 at North Thurston and April 15 at River Ridge.
