The North Kitsap Vikings took the first victory in the Battle of the Bridge against Bainbridge, winning 4-3 April 16.

The Spartans will look to split the regular season series on their home field April 18 at 4:15 pm.

“We are right there,” Bainbridge coach Geoff Brown said. “If you look at some of our losses, it has been in the first couple of innings. We can pitch and do things, and we are just right there.”

The Vikings scored all of their runs in the first three innings.

Alex Elton reached first base when Spartan pitcher Cole Pentin hit him in the back with a pitch. Tate Stearns followed with an RBI single.

In the second and third innings, the Vikings battled with two two-out rallies.

“We were not conceding innings, making them throw more pitches and put more runs on the board,” NK coach Jeff Weible said. “That’s huge because it gives us that momentum and doesn’t give them an easy inning.”

Stearns picked up two more RBIs with a double in the second inning. Greysen Pritchard hit a single into right field to score the fourth run in the third inning.

“When we get two outs, it is a perfect time to go right at them and force them to do something,” Brown said. “The second and third inning was the game.”

The Spartans finally responded in the top of the fifth inning. Trey Thompson hit a double to score two runs. McCrea Curfman followed with an RBI sacrifice fly. However, the Spartans could not score for the rest of the game.

“Dawsyn [Anderson] had a little blip but threw a phenomenal game,” Weible said. “Marcus [Kim] comes in as a freshman in the seventh against those guys with big pressure and doesn’t give them a chance.”

“We want to get that second one and get into the driver’s seat to become the league champions,” Weible said.

Brown countered: “We got a chance to take care of business on Thursday. If we can go 3-1 against Port Angeles and North Kitsap, we will be good.”

Viking Tate Stearns earns 3 RBIs against Bainbridge.

Spartan Trey Thompson scores two RBIs against North Kitsap.