Community Sports

Sports Beat: Gig Harbor soccer finishes unbeaten regular season

The Gig Harbor boys soccer team finished the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record and a convincing 5-1 win over Peninsula on May 2.

Now the Tides (16-0, 14-0 South Sound Conference) open the postseason against North Thurston at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Roy Anderson Field.

Brackets are set to start District playoffs! Tides v North Thurston this Sat. 7p at Roy Anderson! ⁦@GHTidePride⁩ ⁦@GigHarborNow⁩ pic.twitter.com/0NFIjpOKqD

— Gig Harbor Tides Soccer (@ghhscoach) May 3, 2023

The Tides used rapid ball movement, physical defense, and an aggressive attack to overwhelm the Seahawks during rivalry week.

The Seahawks (6-7-2, 5-7-2) were the South Sound Conference champs in 2022, but Gig Harbor claimed the title this year. Landen Hughes scored twice against Peninsula, while Porter Hanson, Caleb Gilbert and freshman Jack Learned added a goal each.

The Tides displayed their team speed versus the Seahawks. The ball resembled a pinball that was constantly redirected until it found the back of the net. But the Tides aren’t just quick, they are scrappy and not afraid to throw their bodies around.

The Gig Harbor soccer team celebrates after wrapping up an undefeated regular season.

“We hope to carry this momentum, this energy, this excitement into the playoffs and not become complacent because we have played them before, we need to get a win and then go on from there,” Gig Harbor coach Joe Ross said.

Gig Harbor enters the postseason as the second-ranked team in the WIAA’s RPI rankings. A win over North Thurston guarantees the Tides a spot in the state tournament.

“We all work hard here, we all put in the effort, we wanted it the most and we got it,” Learned said.

GH, Peninsula split baseball series

Gig Harbor (9-9, 9-5) and Peninsula (11-9, 7-7) split a two-game baseball series, with the Tides winning 11-2 on May 2 and the Seahawks prevailing 1-0 on May 3.

In the first game, Gig Harbor scored five runs in the first two innings to take the drama out of things.

Jay Clark of Gig Harbor makes a leaping catch during Peninsula’s 1-0 win this week. Photo by Ed Johnson

Gig Harbor got a outstanding effort from pitcher Brendan Masini, who kept the Seahawks off-balance with his fastball and a sneaky curve. The Tides’ defense made difficult plays look routine behind Masini.

Gig Harbor junior Josh Dunham went 3 for 5 with a towering shot to Sehmel Park’s distant fence in the 7th, a triple that helped the Tides score four runs in the inning.

Reigning league MVP Payton Knowles went 3 for 4 at the plate to lead the Seahawks.

Pitchers duel

The following day saw a completely different style of game: A pitching duel between Tides senior Garrick Cosmos and Seahawks junior Gavin Sheets.

Sheets pitched allowed just one hit with four strikeouts over five innings to get the win. Aden Deschenes got the hold and Troy Buchanan got the save for Peninsula.

Cosmos pitched six innings, allowing only three hits and one walk before giving way to Ryan Vorpahl.

Knowles came through with a fifth-inning triple that scored a hustling Hayden Bundy for the game’s only run.

The Tides finished second in the South Sound Conference and face Prairie of Vancouver in the first round of the playoffs on May 9 at Evergreen High School. The Tides lost to Prairie, 16-12, earlier this season but are now fully healthy.

Season ends for Seahawks

The Seahawks finished just outside the playoff picture.

Seahawk coach Michael Johnson said of his departing seniors: “David Takehara, Reece Brown, Troy Buchanan, Aidan Klumkler, and Payton Knowles hold a special place in my heart. They were forced to deal with more adversity than any other group I’ve had come through our program. They had their ninth grade season canceled. A shortened 10th grade year, and a 11th grade season played with heavy hearts after tragically losing two teammates. Their senior year wound up being a roller coaster due to injuries but what makes me the most proud is how they never gave up and always found a way to push through and persevere.”

Gig Harbor wins boys golf title

The Gig Harbor boys golf team capped a 7-0 regular season by beating Peninsula 68-40, winning all 5 individual matches and capturing the South Sound Conference championship.

Sophomore Chet West led the Tides with a 37 for 17 points at Madrona Links. Freshman Theo Snyder and senior Zavier Feasey-Allen both shot 39s for 15 points. Senior Luke Browne added 11 points while senior Colin Morkert earned 10 points to round out the scoring.

The Gig Harbor boys golf team wrapped up an undefeated regular season. Photo by Bryce Carithers.

The Tides move on to the league championships at the Capital City course in Olympia on Monday, May 8, before the district tournament at the Auburn Golf Course the following week.

“I am feeling really good so far,” said coach Shane Henderson. “We’ve continued to improve. Also excited about winning my first league championship this year and finishing it off by beating Peninsula at home.”

GH girls golf also league champs

The Gig Harbor (7-0) girls also were crowned SSC champs following a victory over Peninsula at Madrona Links on Friday, May 5. They did not lose a match in SSC play and head into the post season with momentum.

Hallee Graf of Peninsula finished the season undefeated, but had to work for it against Gig Harbor’s Carley Ikei.

Ikei had an early lead after a par on the second hole while Graf bogeyed. But Graf came back with fairway drives and precise putting to win by three strokes, 38-41. Both girls will be at it again on Monday, May 8, at the league championships in Olympia at the Capital Course.

Gig Harbor golfer Carly Ikei drops a putt. Photo by Bryce Carithers

Seahawks win Baggataway Bowl

Peninsula won the The Baggataway Bowl, the annual rivalry lacrosse match against Gig Harbor, 13-5 for the sixth straight year on April 28 at Roy Anderson Field.

Seahawk captain Boden Clark won face off after face off to keep Peninsula on offense. The Tides have a talented team but were unable to stop the Seahawks, who controlled possession and took advantage with efficient passing, physical play and several bouncing shots for goals.

Both teams advanced to the playoffs, which begin next week against undetermined opponents.