Thanks to some poor springtime weather, Sequim’s fastpitch squad couldn’t even practice on its home field for two full weeks.
The first game back from the layoff? A 4-0 defeat to perennial league juggernaut North Mason on April 10.
“I wish we wouldn’t have had to play that one right away,” Sequim coach Mel Hendrickson said.
But the Wolves responded loud and clear the next day when Sequim hurler Carly Swingle shut out Port Angeles 2-0 with a two-hitter, getting help from two freshmen teammates who provided all the offense she needed.
The win boosts Sequim’s Olympic League mark to 2-3.
Swingle confounded Roughrider batters to the tune of eight strikeouts and just two walks while giving up a single and a double.
“Carly looked sharp, especially after having pitched the day before,” Hendrickson said.
P.A.’s biggest hit, unfortunately for them, came when starter Aly Rae got hit with a pitch on her throwing hand while batting. She left the game after two innings.
Sequim’s freshman got to reliever Sonja Ellofson in the third. Wolf Lea Hopson got aboard after getting hit with a pitch, stole second base and scored on fellow frosh Maddy Zbaraschuk’s RBI double.
In the fifth, Hopson drilled an inside-the-park home run. She finished 1-for-3 while Zbaraschuk was 2-for-4. Swingle, Kathryn Roeber and Hailey McHugh added hits for Sequim.
A day earlier against North Mason’s Bulldogs, the Wolves weren’t nearly as sharp, committing four errors that led to four unearned runs.
Bulldog ace Katelyn Stanley shut Sequim down, giving up four hits.
“We were rusty,” Hendrickson said.
The Wolves, Hendrickson said, have three very beatable teams this week, though all are road games: April 14 at winless Bremerton, April 16 at Peninsula (Gig Harbor) and April 18 at Olympic (Silverdale).
Earlier this season, Sequim had a 5-2 lead late against Olympic but gave up six runs
Olympic League standings (as of April 13)
• 2A division
Team Lg. Over.
North Mason 5-1 6-2
Klahowya 4-1 5-3
Kingston 2-3 5-4
Sequim 2-3 3-3
Port Townsend 1-4 2-5
