Few Olympic League pitchers this year could shut down a hot-hitting Sequim baseball squad.

Unfortunately for the Wolves, Olympic ace Chase Matheny stood between them and a return trip to the class 2A state tournament.

Matheny held Sequim (14-7) to one run and three hits in six innings and struck out seven as the Trojans eliminated the Wolves from the West Central District playoffs on May 13 in Tacoma.

“He’s very good,” Sequim coach Dave Ditlefsen said.” We had some great at-bats. We didn’t strike out as much as we had the first time (we saw him).”

Olympic got to Sequim starter Austin Hilliard for three runs in the top of the third inning, as Kylan Pereira, Matt Walters and Elijah Trottman each had RBIs.

Sequim got a run back in the fifth inning, as the Wolves loaded the bases on a walk and three hit batters, but Matheny was able to get the Wolves to ground into a double play to end the threat. The Olympic pitcher started the twin-killing himself, fielding a sharply-hit ball and throwing home.

“They made a big play there; it could have been a big rally,” Ditlefsen said.

Trotttman shut the Wolves down in the seventh for a save.

James Grubb, Justin Porter and Johnnie Young had hits for Sequim.

Hilliard finished with six strikeouts and gave up seven hits over six innings. Ian Miller pitched one hitless inning in relief.

“Austin threw a fantastic game,” Ditlefsen said. “Olympic scores a lot of runs (8.4 per game during the regular season, 23 in two games against Sequim). He held them to three runs. That’s all you can ask for.”

Matheny was even better on March 30, when he gave up two hits and struck out nine in a 10-0 Trojan win.

This time around, it came with a berth to state. Olympic went on to fall to Port Angeles in the district consolation final later that day, 8-2, but takes the sixth and final seed to the state tournament.

North Kitsap took the district title after winning three straight.

“All things considered, this was a very good season,” Ditlefsen said. “We had some adversity with injuries and kids not in our lineup. I’m proud of how they performed, how they played.

“In this playoff stretch, (we) just ran into some good pitchers. You’ve got to tip your cap sometimes.”

Stopping Steilacoom

Sequim survived five errors by jumping out to a 3-0 lead after two innings and holding off a persistent Steilacoom squad for a 6-5 win on May 10 in Bremerton, earning a spot in the district consolation semifinals.

Gavin Velarde and Hilliard, Sequim’s 1-2 hitters, combined to reach base six times and rack up six steals to spur Sequim’s offense. Velarde had three hits, including a triple, while a patient Hilliard drew three walks.

Grubb got the win, giving up three runs — all unearned — and four walks over five innings. He struck out eight Sentinels.

James Thayer gave up two runs in an inning of relief but struck out three batters before Hilliard earned a save with one scoreless inning.

Sequim split its opening two district games, knocking off White River 11-1 and falling to Eatonville 6-1 on May 6.