PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles sophomore Alex Angevine made a breakthrough this season, earning a spot on the Roughriders’ varsity after spending his freshman year as a JV player and making the most out of it, earning the starting shortstop job and performing at an all-league level at the plate, on the base paths and in the field as Port Angeles made a state tournament appearance.
The leadoff hitter for the Riders, Angevine batted.372 with a .479 on-base percentage and an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.004. Of 29 total hits, 10 were of the extra-base variety (eight doubles, two triples), to go with 14 RBIs.
Once on base, it was tough to keep Angevine from swiping bags or scoring runs. He racked up a Rickey Henderson-esque 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts and scored 28 runs. He also was part of turning five double plays at shortstop.
“He’s a firestarter,” Port Angeles and Wilder Baseball Club Senior team head coach Zac Moore said. “He plays hard every time out, he does the little things right and plays well above his years. He’s a sophomore that plays like a senior. And he’s a great teammate — gets good grades, behaves himself, does it by example and he enjoys the process.”
Angevine earned All-Olympic League First Team honors at shortstop, and he’s the 2023 All-Peninsula Baseball MVP as selected by the sports staff of the Peninsula Daily News.
Angevine said he wants to be the spark for the Riders.
“Hitting wise, felt like my role is to get on base as much as I can and be the first to score,” Angevine said. “At shortstop, to try to be a leader and always be the loudest. Push the tempo with my teammates and keep them focused on their jobs, and if anybody makes an error to back them up and focus on the next play.”
Moore and Angevine agreed that spending last summer with Wilder, including a call-up to the Senior team, was the driving force behind his prep improvement.
“Last summer, being with coach Moore and the coaches that I had put me at a level where I started to make baseball a lifestyle and a big part of my overall goals,” Angevine said. “All the repition from drills helped out, the practices and all the games.”
Angevine’s been a part of the Port Angeles baseball pipeline his whole life, starring in Cal Ripken and Olympic Junior Babe Ruth, so his potential and his pedigree has been a known quantity.
His dad Todd was a star for Port Angeles and Aggie’s, the precursor to Wilder, while older brother Luke was a three-sport standout who played basketball at Peninsula College. Oldest brother Nate was a starting quarterback and Rainshadow Rumble winner and mom Malinda maintains order.
“Almost every game my Dad tells me to keep my shoulder up and to stay positive,” Angevine said. “My brothers, they taught me everything about playing high school sports. Luke taught me to forget my mistakes quickly and stay positive. Nate, for football he told me to go low, hit hard and always follow the coaches’ instructions. And my Mom keeps me in line.”
Angevine will focus on his glove game this summer, according to Moore. Angevine, at 5-foot-9, 155-pounds, said he would also hit the weights.
“Weight room, 100 percent,” Angevine said. “I need to get stronger.”
2023 All-Peninsula Baseball Team
• MVP: Alex Angevine, soph., SS, Port Angeles: Hit .372 with a .479 on-base percentage. 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts. Eight doubles, two triples and 14 RBIs. Turned five double plays at shortstop.
• Elijah Flodstrom, sr., OF, Port Angeles: Led team with .420 batting average, 18 RBIs. 3-0 with 1.89 ERA as pitcher. First-team All-Olympic Leaguer.
• Kole Acker, sr., P/2B, Port Angeles: First-team All-Olympic League pitcher went 4-0 with 1.08 ERA. Batted .362 Acker will throw submarine style for Mount Hood Community College.
• Jordan Shumway, soph, OF, Port Angeles: Lockdown defensive outfielder hit .300 with 14 RBIs
• Josiah Gooding, soph., IF/P, Port Angeles: Second-team All-Olympic League pick posted a .935 fielding percentage (29 of 31), batted .290 with seven RBIs.
• Gunner Rogers, jr., P/IF, Forks: Pacific League first-team pick was 3-4 with a 3.28 ERA in 38.1 innings on the mound and batted .340 with five doubles and 12 RBIs.
• Zeke Schmaedeke, sr., Utility, Sequim: Second-team All-Olympic League selection.
• Aidan Salazar, jr., P/IF, Forks: Second-team Pacific Leaguer hit .367 with two doubles, a triple and 21 RBIs and was 3-2 with a 5.19 ERA in 33.2 innings pitched.
• Dylan Micheau, so., OF/IF, Forks: Batted .315 with five doubles, a triple, a home run and 12 RBIs in earning second-team All-Pacific.
• Landen Olson, fr., P/IF, Forks: Second-team Pacific League pick hit .314 with five doubles, a triple and 16 RBIs, also 2-0 with one save on the mound.
• Toppy Robideau, sr., P, Sequim: Second-team Olympic League pick.
• Tanner Jacobsen, sr., OF, Port Angeles: Came back from junior year roster cut to hit .333 and become “a hit-a-game guy.”
• Coach of the Year: Zac Moore, Port Angeles: Led Riders through a competitive Olympic League and difficult district tournament to make a state tournament appearance in his first season in charge of his alma mater.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles’ Alex Angevine bunts to advance the baserunners in the second inning against South Whidbey on Tuesday at Port Angeles Civic Field.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles shortstop Alex Angevine, left, catches North Kitsap’s Alex Elton in a rundown between first and second during the third inning on Tuesday at Port Angeles Civic Field.
KEITH THORPE (2)/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles shortstop Alex Angevine, left, catches North Kitsap’s Alex Elton in a rundown between first and second during the third inning on Tuesday at Port Angeles Civic Field.
