This one hurts in more ways than one.
Port Angeles scored four runs in the final two innings Friday afternoon against Sequim, turning a 2-1 dogfight into a 6-1 blowout.
The loss not only evens up the teams’ rivalry but more importantly for the struggling Wolves, puts Sequim in a tie for the third and final postseason berth with Kingston.
Molly Ward had RBI triples in the sixth and seventh inning, and Sonja Elofson and Aly Rae combined for a one-run, three hit game as the Roughriders avenged a 2-0 loss earlier this season.
"I think we lost some intensity and focus," Sequim coach Mel Hendrickson said.
Port Angeles drew first blood in the third inning when Michelle Senf ripped an RBI single off Carly Swingle for a 1-0 lead.
Sequim responded right back when freshman Maddy Zbaraschuk drilled an Elofson pitch into deep centerfield for a home run, her fourth in four games. Yolanda Chinn followed with a triple to deep center – nearly the same spot Zbaraschuk found – but Elofson retired the next batter.
Senf had an RBI triple in the top of the fourth inning, and only stellar plays from Chelsea Winfield at second base, Hailey McHugh at third and Lea Hopson in right field kept the Roughriders from scoring more.
But in the sixth, Rae led off with a double and Ward knocked her in with a one-out triple. A single and two-out infield error gave Port Angeles two more runs, and Ward added an RBI hit in the seventh inning.
Rae came on to strike out seven batters in the final three innings for the save.
Hendrickson said the wear and tear of four games in five days – and more to the point, getting one practice in the past two weeks, the numerous rainouts and suspended games – have left his team a little disjointed.
The Wolves still have a chance to get into the postseason, needing to finish in the top three for a playoff berth. They were scheduled to host Kingston April 29 and play at Port Townsend May 1.
"We’ve got to win those or we’re staying home," Hendrickson said.
Sequim hosts North Mason May 6 and Bremerton on May 8 before a non-league contest at Chimacum May 15.
Redskins no match
for Sequim hitters
Playing on the junior varsity field – one coach Hendrickson affectionately referred to as "the sandbox" – Sequim’s varsity squad made quick work of Port Townsend.
The Wolves pounded out 11 hits and Swingle worked three shutout innings as Sequim wasn’t tested in the Olympic League match-up April 24 at home.
Zbaraschuk clobbered a home run to deep center while Chinn, McHugh, Hopson and Kylee Mildenberger each collected two hits in the win.
Lauren Hendrickson threw the final two innings.
Port Townsend managed just three base hits.
Trojans rule in Silverdale
Olympic pitcher Rachel Haas kept Sequim’s bats at bay as the host Trojans prevailed 4-1 in Silverdale April 22.
Zbaraschuk drilled her second home run of the week to break up the shutout in the top of the seventh, one of just two Sequim hits (Chinn had the other).
Swingle took the loss on the mound, giving up seven hits to a strong Olympic ball club.
Wolves lose
tight game vs. Eagles
Sequim’s week started out rough as Kazandra Holliday and the Klahowya Eagles edged the Wolves 6-5 in Silverdale April 21.
Holliday struck out 10 and the Eagles broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth with two runs to beat the visitors from Sequim.
Zbaraschuk was 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs, Chinn and Katherine Roeber were each 2-for-4 and Hopson doubled in a run to lead Sequim’s offense.
Klahowya’s Elise Gianacakos had a three-homer in the third and a two-run double in the fifth for the game-winning hit.
