Sequim’s Wolves are headed to the first round of the class 2A state tournament with a top-three seed, but they nearly came away with an even higher seed, if it were not for one forgettable inning.
The Wolves (13-9) rebounded from a 5-2 loss to league rival North Kitsap on May 16 with a sharp, 2-0 win against Liberty later that day to take the West Central District’s No. 3 seed to regionals, the first round of the state 2A tourney.
Through five innings against North Kitsap, Sequim looked poised to knock off the Olympic League champs as SHS ace Tanner Rhodefer gave up one run on just one hit and two walks, with four strikeouts.
Hit battery mate, catcher Ian Dennis, twice gave Rhodefer the lead. In the top of the fourth inning, Dennis followed back-to-back singles by Daniel Harker and Nigel Christian with a sacrifice fly to deep right field. After the Vikings knotted the score in the fifth, Dennis beat out an infield hit to allow pinch-runner Justin Porter to score and put Sequim up 2-1.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, the proverbial wheels fell off. A dropped ball at first base allowed NK leadoff hitter T.J. Jensen to reach base. After a sacrifice moved Jensen to second, an infield popup dropped between second base and right field, and the resulting throw to catch Jensen trying to score sailed past Dennis. An intentional walk and back-to-back-to-back base hits later it was 5-2 North Kitsap and Sequim couldn’t muster a response in the seventh.
“When you get to this level and you let your focus slip a little, good teams can get to you,” Sequim coach Dave Ditlefsen said.
Rhodefer, battling an illness all game, was charged with two earned runs in his six innings, striking out five Vikings.
Harker and Christian had two hits each for Sequim.
“(I told the team) to focus for 21 outs,” Ditlefsen said following the loss. “I think we’ve proved we belong at this level.”
Sequim rebounded with a 2-0 shutout against Liberty’s Patriots, behind the strong start by Christian. After missing most of the season on the mound thanks to elbow tenderness, Christian gave up just three hits and struck out four, while the Wolves back him up with just one error in seven innings.
The Wolves tallied a run in the third inning when Gavin Velarde hit a two-out triple and Jonathan Serrano singled him home. In the fifth, Sequim made it 2-0 when Rhodefer doubled and scored on an Evan Hurn single.
Liberty’s Torey Anderson was sharp, striking out 12 Wolves in defeat.
Looking ahead
Sequim takes on Squalicum at 10 a.m. May 23 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham. The winner of that contest takes on the winner of the Anacortes/Black Hills game later that day, also at Joe Martin Field.
State semifinal games are slated for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Yakima County Stadium in Yakima May 29, with the third/fourth place game at 1 p.m. and title game at 7 p.m. on May 30, also at Yakima County Stadium.
