On Thursday, March 16, the Lions traveled to Puyallup to take on the top-ranked Vikings. Puyallup routinely has dominated Bellarmine and the rest of the SPSL. In the last two seasons they have finished 1st and 2nd in state respectively. 

That’s why it was such a surprise to the Vikings when Bellarmine nearly defeated them. The Lions lineup featured Spencer Truebenbach (‘25) at CF, Nick Nino (‘24) at LF, Hayden Morrison (‘23) at SS, Drew Welk (‘23) at 1B, Dolan Wynne (‘25) as the starting pitcher, Nate Burke (‘23) at 2B, Raiden Calcote (‘25) at 3B, Braden Pollock (‘24) at DH, and Owen Haugen (‘23) at C, with Ethan Truebenbach (‘23) not batting but playing Right Field. 

Wynne, a hard-throwing sophomore, was up against a difficult task throwing against Brett Ellingson. Ellingson is a senior committed to playing collegiately for D1 Seattle University. Ellingson largely lived up to that billing, holding the Lions to two runs (one earned) and 5 hits in 6 innings, while striking out 8 and only walking two batters. The Lions scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, when Nino, Morrison, Welk, and Wynne strung together four straight singles, to load the bases, but after that, the Lions only managed one more hit (again from Welk) the rest of the game. 

Wynne pitched very well himself, and kept the Lions in the game against a very difficult lineup. In four innings he allowed three runs on 5 hits and only two walks, striking out two. Fellow sophomore Jack Nedved replaced him in the game, throwing two innings and allowing an unearned run, due to an error by Ethan Truebenbach in right field. 

Also notable was freshman Aaron Barnhart, who made his first ever Varsity at-bat after being called up from the JV squad. This is because senior Triton Vitale is currently not with the team. 

The Lions fall to 0-3, 0-2 in league play, but it’s been a very competitive start to the season for them. Credit to the boys for hanging in against a very difficult opponent.