Trailing 7-2, Port Angeles produced a 12-run fifth inning and silenced Sequim’s bats the rest of the way in a 14-7 Rainshadow Rumble rivalry softball victory on April 19.
And the Roughriders needed all those runs on a day where the team’s defense wasn’t at its best.
“Our defense wasn’t there today,” coach Randy Steinman said. “That was not typical Rider softball. And no matter what when you play Sequim it’s a big game and nerves come out. We just have to have a little more focus defensively.”
The Wolves feasted in the early innings as Lily Fili’s sacrifice fly and Taylee Rome’s infield single drove in runs in the home half of the first to make it 2-0.
A two-out, two-run home run by Mia Pozernick in the third inning and a two-out RBI double to left by Christy Grubb in the fourth added to Sequim’s advantage.
But the Riders got rolling in the fifth as second baseman Peyton Rudd notched a single and back-to-back walks by Taylor Worthington and Cheyenne Zimmer loaded the bases. A two-run single followed by Port Angeles pitcher Teagan Clark, freshman Heidi Leitz added an RBI single and reigning Olympic League MVP Zoe Smithson added a two-run single to tie the game at 7-all.
Smithson then got into a pickle between first-and-second base, allowing a Riders runner to score the go-ahead run.
Having batted around the order, Rudd added her second hit of the inning, an RBI double, to chase Sequim starter Angel Wagner.
“Angel has been doing really well for us, we are just really limited at pitcher with Laney’s [Vig] injury,” Wolves coach Mike McFarlen said.
“She injured her bicep and is probably out for the season, so we have to go with what we got.”
Port Angeles wasn’t finished hacking, however, as Natalie Robinson blasted a two-run home run to center field and Leitz added a two-run double to the gap in left-center off reliever Rome.
Wolves shortstop Hannah Bates shut down Port Angeles in two clean innings in the circle for Sequim.
On a shaky day in the field for the Riders (six errors), freshman Ava-Ann Sheehan came on in right field for an injured Lily Halberg and made two nifty grabs on line drives. She also singled and scored.
Leitz also impressed, especially on her gapper to left-center.
“Ava-Ann in came in and got a nice hit and made two nice plays in the outfield in a big-game atmosphere,” Steinman said. And Heidi is another freshman who came in with some huge hits at big times today.”
Clark allowed two hits over the final three innings, totaling 7 of her 12 strikeouts in those final three frames.
“You can’t just hit for three or four innings,” McFarlen said. “You have to keep it up for all seven.”
Sequim (4-4 in Olympic League play, 8-4 overall) rebounded a 10-2 win at class 3A Bainbridge in April 22 (results were not available at press time).
Coming up
Sequim was scheduled to host Bremerton on April 26.
The Wolves are at North Kitsap on April 28.
Sequim hosts North Mason on May 3 and plays at Kingston on May 5.
In the regular season’s final week, Sequim hosts Olympic on May 10 and plays at Port Angeles — at Dry Creek Elementary —on May 13.
The 2A bi-district tournament is set for May 20-21 in Lacey, with six of the 16 teams advancing to the state 2A tournament scheduled for May 27-28 at Carlon Park in Selah.
