Wolves edge Cowboys

It took nine innings, but Sequim got what it wanted heading into the West Central District playoffs: some momentum.

Fresh off a 10-0 clobbering of Bremerton the day before, the Wolves needed some extra inning magic to get past host Chimacum in an 8-7, nine-inning win on May 9.

The victory comes a little more than a week away from Sequim’s first playoff game, a loser-out contest against Steilacoom at 10 a.m. May 17. The winner takes on Olympic League champ North Mason.

Sequim coach Mel Hendrickson said the Sentinels have good leadoff speed and are well-coached.

Against Chimacum, Sequim’s Maddy Zbaraschuk had a run-scoring fielder’s choice and Kylee Mildenberger ripped an RBI single that proved to be the winning run in the top of the ninth, giving starter Carly Swingle a win.

The Cowboys managed a run in the bottom of the ninth.

The game was a seesaw contest that saw four lead changes in the first five innings.

“We didn’t expect them to hit that well,” Hendrickson said.

Swingle went all nine innings, striking out seven and walking just two but giving up 11 Cowboy hits.

Lea Hopson led Sequim with three hits while Chelsea Winfield was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Zbaraschuk drove in two and Yolanda Chinn, slammed a home run, then was walked the rest of the game. Libby Grubb added a triple and two RBIs, and teammates Kenzi Rhodefer and Hailey McHugh each had two hits.

The Wolves also will be taking some hardware heading into the district playoffs: Chinn was named all-league first team outfielder while Swingle got the nod for all-second team as pitcher. Zbaraschuk and Hopson were named to the all-league honorable mention list.

Hendrickson said his team will be focusing on cutting down mental errors as it heads into districts.

“Our weakness is staying mentally focused,” he said.

Wolves blast Bremerton

This is where the dreams were born.

Thanks to the Funtastic Carnival taking up the varsity and JV fields last week, Sequim’s fastpitch squad got to play on Sequim Little League’s softball diamond, where many players first learned the game.

On May 8, Bremerton took the brunt of Sequim’s exuberance.

Zbaraschuk had two long triples to drive in two runs and Mildenberger was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs as Sequim beat Bremerton 10-0 in a mercy rule-shortened, five inning game.

Rhodefer added a double, Winfield had two hits and Grubb drove in a run in the win.

“It was nice to get some hits,” Hendrickson said, after watching his Wolves get only two hits in a 7-0 loss to North Mason two days prior. “Bremerton is coming along. (But) we hit the ball hard.”

Swingle struck out six and gave up just one hit and two walks in five innings.

Olympic League standings (final)

• 2A division

Team Lg. Over.

North Mason 14-2 16-3

Klahowya 10-5 11-7

Sequim 8-7 10-7

Kingston 6-10 10-10

Port Townsend 2-13 3-14

• 3A division

Team Lg. Over.

Port Angeles 12-4 13-4