Down 1-0 in the 3rd, center fielder Ben Krueger belted a fastball high over the left field fence to drive in Nick Holstead, who had singled, giving Honda a 2-1 lead. 

Pingree (2-1) took a few innings to find his zone, walking five early and working himself out of trouble in the 2nd and 4th innings with minimal damage. But he settled in when he needed to. Clinging a 3-2 lead heading into the 5th, Pingree hit his spots and did not surrender another run the rest of the way.   

Honda Takes 4th in Yakima
JUL 3, 2011 — Honda ended up 2-2 and took 4th place in the Annual Yakima Firecracker Tournament after dropping its final game 6-1 to the Walla Walla Braves.

Pitcher Tyler Bernheisel (10 IP, 0 R, 5 Ks) and shortstop Ben Circeo (.444, 6 RBI) were selected for the All-Tournament Team.

Honda Cruises to 10-1 victory over Bothell 
JUL 2, 2011 — The Honda boys scored six times in the first inning and never looked back as they pounded Bothell 10-1 in Yakima today. Ben Circeo knocked in four runs on the day with a double and triple, and starter Justin Hooker (1-2) allowed just two hits over five innings to get the victory.

Left fielder Jake Brown also contributed a triple and two RBIs.

Bernheisel's Pitching Clinic Leads Honda to 1-0 Victory in Yakima 
JUL 1, 2011 — Tyler Bernheisel was on his game tonight, throwing just 88 pitches in 10 innings (you read that right) to lead Honda past the Yakima Beetles in Yakima today. In one of his finest performances to date, Bernheisel threw an incredible 31 first-pitch strikes to the 35 batters he faced (watch video).

Still, the Yakima starter Trenton Dupre, also a lefty, was able to match zeros with Bernheisel through the first nine innings. The game finally turned in the 10th when the first Honda batter of the inning, DH Ari Kira, stepped to the plate and powered the first pitch he saw from Dupre high over the 16-foot left field fence (watch video) for what would prove to be the only run of the game.

Yakima made it interesting in the bottom of the 10th when their first two batters singled and were bunted over to 2nd and 3rd with one out. The next batter hit a hard grounder that was deftly handled by third baseman Nick Holstead who forced the runner at home. With two outs and runners at the corners, the next batter hit a slow grounder to short that looked like it would tie the game. But shortstop Ben Circeo charged the ball and rifled it to first to barely nip a head-first diving runner for the 3rd and final out. Final score: Honda 1, Yakima 0.

"This was a great pitcher's duel," said scorekeeper Gerry Roethe. "It's the best game I've seen in my six years with Honda."   

Honda Tops Showtime 4-3 to Finish Salem Tourney 
JUN 26, 2011 — Honda finished strong in Salem, defeating Showtime Black 4-3 on "get-away" day. Matt Price (2-2) earned the win in after striking out four and allowing just two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

First baseman Derek Papke put Honda on the board in the first with a double that scored Griffin Walker, who had singled. Showtime tied the game in the second, but Price singled home Ben Schuler in the fourth to put Honda up 2-1. It stayed that way until the sixth, when Alex Koh led off with a single and Nick Holstead doubled him home. Walker then brought in Holstead with his second hit of the day, making the score 4-1, Honda.

Showtime ralleyed with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but that was all they could muster as Honda held on for the 4-3 victory.

Next up is the Annual Yakima Firecracker Tournament. The boys leave on Wednesday morning. Go Honda! 

Rough Start to Salem Tourney Means Uphill Battle for Honda
JUN 24, 2011 — After two games, the boys find themselves in an 0-2 hole in Salem, OR. The bats have yet to heat up, mustering only eight hits so far. Next game is Saturday morning at 10:00 vs. the Apple Valley Packers. Go Honda!

Big Inning Pushes Lakeside Over Honda 7-4   
JUN 20, 2011 — Despite outplaying Lakeside for most of the game, Honda ended up on the losing end 7-4 tonight. Honda took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning on the strength of Tyler Bernheisel's 2-RBI double, which scored Jacob Miller and Jake Brown. But in the 4th, Lakeside took advantage of three Honda errors and added three hits of its own to post a seven-run inning, from which Honda never recovered.

Honda Cruises to 7-2 Victory over Lux
JUN 16, 2011 — Jacob Miller rapped three hits and drove in three in leading Honda to a 7-2 win over Lux at Bannerwood Park tonight. Nick Pingree kept the Lux bats off balance all evening as Honda got back in the win column.

Leading 4-2 heading into the 5th, Honda scored three more to put the game out of reach. Third baseman Ari Kira led off with a triple to deep right field and scored on a passed ball. Walks to Ben Krueger and Tyler Bernheisel brought Miller to the plate, and he promptly drove in Krueger with a sharp single to center. Then with two outs, Miller scored on a wild pitch, making it 7-2 Honda, and that's how it ended.

Pingree (1-0) struck out four and scattered four hits over seven innings for the complete game victory.

Honda continued its fielding clinic with SS Ben Circeo and 2B Nick Holstead turning a slick DP to end the top of the 2nd. Holstead also backhanded a rocket in the 4th and nailed the runner at second to end the inning. Then in the last of the 7th, Pingree recorded his third perfect inning of the game thanks to excellent fielding by Kira and Circeo.

Lakeside Edges Honda 4-3
JUN 15, 2011 — Tight game tonight as Lakeside held on to an early lead to defeat Honda 4-3. On the bright side, Honda tightened up its defense, playing flawlessly for all seven innings, and outhit Lakeside 9-5. But Honda just could not come up with that key hit, and ran out of opportunities. Starter Alex Koh (1-3) allowed just five hits over seven innings, and right-fielder Zach Stevens went 2-4 including an RBI triple in the last inning.  

Stevens, Schuler Power Honda Over Warriors 10-9
JUN 13, 2011 — Zach Stevens and Ben Schuler had seven hits and six RBIs between them to lead Honda past the Warriors 10-9 today. It was really a tale of two games, featuring 23 hits and 9 errors on an Island Crest field that was in less than pristine condition. Each time Honda pulled ahead, it would give the runs back with sloppy fielding.

Honda finally went on top to stay in the 6th inning. Down 8-6, Ben Krueger led off with a single and Ben Circeo followed with a HBP. A double steal moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd, and Derek Papke brought home Krueger with a long sac fly to center that also moved Circeo to 3rd. Catcher Ben Schuler then singled to score Circeo, tying the score at 8-8. A single by Matt Price and a BB by Nick Holstead loaded the bases for Zach Stevens who came up with his fourth hit of the day, a sharp single to center that scored Price and Alex Koh, who had come in to run for Schuler, and give Honda a 10-8 lead. The Warriors answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but that was all the scoring as Honda held on for the 10-9 victory.

Starter Tyler Bernheisel (3-0) went the distance, striking out seven and allowing just two earned runs. Ben Circeo, Matt Price, and Griffin Walker also contributed multiple hits. Ben Krueger had three stolen bases. 

Honda Drops Pair to Lakeside
JUN 12, 2011 — Honda lost both ends of a twin-bill to Lakeside today, 9-1 and 6-5.

Honda Survives Late Rally to Edge Lakeside
JUN 7, 2011 — Honda defeated Lakeside 4-3 at Skyline HS today for its 7th win of the season. Starter Nick Pingree allowed just one run over 5.1 innings, but left with the game knotted at 1-1. It stayed that way until the final frame when Zach Stevens drove in Nick Holstead, who had reached on an error. Third baseman Griffin Walker then drove in what proved to be the game winner with a clutch two-out single that plated Stevens and closer Jake Brown, who had walked. Lakeside mounted a scare in its final at-bat, scoring two runs. But with the tying run on 3rd, Brown (2-0) induced a pop fly which he handled off the mound, preserving the victory.

Errors Plague Honda in Loss to Bankers
JUN 6, 2011 — In a game that see-sawed back and forth for the first 4 1/2 innings, Honda's defense fell apart, allowing Bankers to score a decisive 13-7 victory. Honda staked itself to a 3-run lead in the top of the 1st with hits from Griffin Walker, Ben Circeo, and Derek Papke. But five errors — all of them costly — doomed Honda as the game wore on. Starter Ari Kira (0-2) was solid in the loss, throwing 17 of 25 first-pitch strikes.   

Honda Splits Double Header with Toyota
JUN 5, 2011 — Honda split a double header with Toyota at Shorecrest HS today, dropping the first game 2-0, but winning the nightcap 4-2.

GAME 1 - Despite outhitting Toyota in game one, the Honda boys were unable to push those runners across the plate. Down 2-0 heading into the 6th, Honda loaded the bases with one out but Toyota managed to turn a neat double play off a sharply hit ball up the middle to end the threat. Honda threatened again in the 7th with hits from Jacob Miller and Tyler Bernheisel, but came up empty once again.

Starter Justin Hooker was masterful in using only 60 pitches in throwing a complete game. His only bump was the 2nd inning when Toyota scored 2 runs on 3 hits, but the right-hander went on to face the minimum 12 hitters over the final 4 innings.    

GAME 2 - Lefty Tyler Bernheisel and righty Jake Brown combined to defeat Toyota 4-2 in game two to earn the split. Down 2-1 entering the 5th, Honda tied the game on a suicide squeeze deftly pulled off by center fielder Ben Krueger on a ball that would have beaned him if he hadn't laid it down. But Krueger managed to somehow get his bat on the ball and scored a hard-charging Ari Kira from third to tie the game at 2-2.

With the score still knotted in the last, third baseman Griffin Walker coaxed a one-out walk and then stole second. He scored on a hard double to left by Krueger, giving Honda its first lead of the day. Krueger then alertly stole third on a walk to DH Ben Circeo, and scored on a wild pitch.

Armed with a 4-2 lead, Jake Brown (1-0) set the Toyota bats down in order in the 7th just as he had done the inning previous, and earned the win for Honda.

Bats Go Cold as Honda Exits Moses Lake 
MAY 30, 2011 — Tough tournament for Honda as we returned home today with just one victory. We had trouble bunching our hits together this weekend, but there were some memorable highlights:

• Ben Circeo hit 4 homers and batted .533 (8 for 15) with 9 RBIs 
• Tyler Bernheisel scattered 5 hits over 6 innings in defeating Showtime Red in Game 2
• Zach Stevens led the team with 9 hits for the tournament
• Ben Krueger made an amazing diving catch in the left-center gap in game 5 to prevent multiple runs from scoring

Honda Defeats Showtime Red to Even Record to 1-1
MAY 28, 2011 — Honda defeated Showtime Red 5-3 in Game 2. Starter Tyler Bernheisel kept the Showtime bats quiet, scattering just five hits over six innings. Ben Circeo launched his second home run of the day, a solo shot in the bottom of the 3rd to give Honda a 4-0 lead. Right fielder Zach Stevens went 4 for 4, while center fielder Ben Krueger contributed a double and scored twice. Ari Kira pitched a perfect 7th to pick up the save. 

Honda Drops Tourney Opener to Showtime Black
MAY 28, 2011 — Showtime Black defeated Honda 11-4 in Game 1. Not much to cheer about in this one. Showtime posted a 6-spot in the 2nd inning and it was all uphill for Honda from there. The pitchers did a nice job in throwing strikes and issued ZERO walks. But unfortunately, too many pitches caught too much of the plate and the Showtime bats were ready for them. Late in the game, Ari Kira belted a nice 2-RBI double, and Ben Circeo contributed a solo HR, but by then the game was out of reach.  

Big Inning Carries Honda Past Warriors 7-2
MAY 21, 2011 — Honda banged out nine hits – four of them in the 3rd inning – as Honda defeated the Warriors 7-2. Down 2-1 heading into the 3rd, Derek Papke tied the game with an RBI hit to right, which plated Griffin Walker, who had led off the inning with a single. Honda then loaded the bases with two outs and scored twice on Justin Hooker's clutch hit to left. Catcher Ben Schuler then knocked in Hooker and Zach Stevens, who had walked.