For two innings, it looked like Sequim would have a tough time getting win No. 101 for head coach Dave Ditlefsen.
But in the third, host Port Angeles simply couldn’t find a grip on the baseball or their slim 1-0 lead.
Sequim’s Wolves (6-1 in Olympic League, 8-1 overall) used a combination of speed, timely hitting and taking advantage of five Roughrider errors to tally an eight-run third inning to knock off their rivals 13-4 on April 11.
Evan Hurn had a triple, double and single, Brett Wright was 3-for-3 with two steals and Dusty Bates was 2-for-5 with two RBIs as the Wolves kept their top spot in the league standings.
Nigel Christian, who was 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBIs, struck out six and gave up three runs over five innings for the win. Zach Rigg gave up one run on one hit in two innings of relief.
Jordan Shepard took the loss for Port Angeles, giving up eight earned runs on nine hits and four walks over four innings.
“They’ve actually been showing a lot better defense than that,” Ditlefsen said of the Roughriders. “We know when we see them again (in Sequim on April 28) they’ll do better. We’ll certainly take it.”
An early deficit to a league cellar-dweller didn’t faze the Sequim Wolves on April 11, helping Ditlefsen pick up his 100th win midway through his ninth season.
After giving up two first-inning runs, Daniel Harker settled down to earn the win for the Wolves as Sequim knocked off Port Townsend 16-3.
Harker gave up five hits and two walks, striking out five in five innings of work. Zach Rigg tossed a scoreless sixth.
“Our kids have just been very resilient and confident,” Ditlefsen said. “It shows a toughness in their attitudes. Plus, our pitching’s been fantastic. That’s one of our strengths.”
Dylan Lott led Sequim at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three doubles, three RBIs and four runs scored. Brady Vig and Chris Whitaker had a double and two RBIs each while Bates was 2-for-4. Nine Sequim players had hits.
James Delgarza took the loss for Port Townsend, who learned lasts week the team’s mascot will be changed to the Red Hawks for the 2014-2015 prep sports season.
Like their softball counterparts, Sequim’s baseball squad overcame trouble in the field to score a key Olympic League win on April 8.
The Wolves used two hits, two walks and an error to plate three runs in the sixth inning to edge Olympic, 6-5.
Rigg, working in relief of Nick Johnston, picked up his first win and Tanner Rhodefer struck out the side in the seventh inning for the save.
Sequim was charged with five errors that helped turn a 3-0 lead into a 5-3 deficit entering the bottom of the sixth. In that inning, Wright led off with a walk and Johnston hit a double to left field. Christian plated a run with a sacrifice fly and after Hurn popped up, Harker tied the game at 5-5 with a two-out RBI double. Olympic mishandled James Grubb’s fly ball for the sixth and winning run.
“That’s a huge one early on,” Ditlefsen said, “We still have to go down there (on April 30).”
Johnston worked five innings and gave up three runs (two earned), striking out six and walking four.
Grubb finished 2-for-3. Despite just five hits, the Wolves had six different players tally RBIs.
Dylan Hannum led the Trojan offense with two hits and two RBIs.
Sequim was slated to play at North Mason on April 14. The Wolves play three games in three days later this week, hosting Fife on April 27 before playing at Kingston on April 18 and at Tyee on April 19.
Playing four games in five days might hamper some teams, Ditlefsen said, but the Wolves’ coach said his team is ready for it.
“We’ve actually got pitchers that need more innings,” he said.
Olympic League standings (as of April 13)
Sequim 6-1 8-1
Olympic 6-1 7-2
North Kitsap 4-2 5-3
North Mason 3-3 4-5
Klahowya 2-3 3-4
Port Angeles 2-4 2-5
Bremerton 1-2 2-3
Kingston 1-3 1-3
Port Townsend 0-6 1-6
