PORT ANGELES — Wilder Senior pulled out a hard-fought victory in its AAA American Legion state tournament opener, getting a clutch two-run, two-out bases-loaded single from Rylan Politika in the seventh to win 10-8 over Gonzaga Prep.
Wilder Senior also got a great pitching performance from Landen Olson over the final 2⅔ innings. He was brought into the game in the middle of a huge jam in the fifth and then shut down Gonzaga Prep the rest of the game.
“Landen came and absolutely grinded,” said coach Zac Moore. “This is what you love. I love the fight in our team tonight. We had a couple of tough calls early, but we didn’t let it affect us.”
“I just let my defense make plays behind me,” Olson said.
Olson was brought in with the bases loaded and only one out in the fifth. “I just took a lot of deep breaths between each pitch,” to remain calm, he said. Olson said Luke Flodstrom also caught an amazing game, making a number of blocks to keep Gonzaga runners from moving up.
On his clutch two-run single in the seventh, Politika said he made adjustments in the batters box in the middle of his at-bat.
“I knew I had to scoot up to take away the curve ball,” he said. He got a fastball and “I just threw my bat at it.
“This feels awesome. We just want to keep it rolling,” Politika said.
Wilder Senior got off to a great start early as Gonzaga Prep pitchers struggled with their control, walking four batters and hitting two batsmen in the first inning. Braydan White had an RBI double in that first inning.
Wilder Senior caught a bad break, however, as Bryant Laboy hit a bases-loaded grounder with the score 4-0. The throw to first sailed wide, allowing two runs to come in to make it 6-0. However, the umpires ruled the runner at second base was out because he is required to slide under the rules of the tournament, even though it didn’t affect the throw to first. The ruling not only ended the inning, but it took two runs off the scoreboard.
It turns out it was a big call as Gonzaga Prep took advantage of the break, scoring two runs in the top of the inning to get right back in the game at 4-2.
Wilder Senior maintained a lead for most of the game, opening the score up to 7-3 in the fourth, but again Gonzaga Prep battled back, threatening to blow the game wide open in the fifth. Gonzaga had the bases loaded with one out, down just 8-7 when Landen Olson came in to pitch.
Olson gave up a sacrifice fly that allowed one run to come in but struck out the final batter of the inning to get out of the jam with minimal damage.
In the top of the seventh, Wilder Senior loaded the bases on a single, walk and hit batsman. Gonzaga was just one strike away from getting out of the game as Politika worked the count to 2-and-2. He then smacked a single up the middle to drive in two runs.
From that point on, Olson did the rest. He struck out the side in the sixth inning, gave up a couple of walks in the seventh but got a popup and a strikeout to end the game.
Olson ended up allowing no hits and striking out five to earn the victory.
White finished with a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a stolen base. Alex Angevine hit a triple and scored a run on a wild pitch. Jordan Shumway had a hit, two runs scored and an RBI, while Politika finished with three RBIs.
Laboy also made a great stabbing dive at second base of a hard grounder, throwing out a runner to end an inning and likely saving a run or two.
Wilder Senior batters were hit eight times by Gonzaga pitchers, who also allowed seven walks.
Wilder Senior will play the Tri-City Titans at Civic Field at 7 p.m. Sunday.
In other Saturday state tournament games, Tri-City beat the Yakima Beetles 12-3, Lakeside Recovery beat Mount Spokane 8-0 and Pepsi Pak beat the West Plains Cannons 5-2.
Wilder Senior 10, Gonzaga Prep 8
WSr. 4 0 0 3 1 00 2 —10 9 0
GP 2 0 1 2 3 0 0 — 8 8 2
Pitching
Wilder Senior — Staples 3.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 ER; Williams 0.2 IP, H; White 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, K; Olson 2.2 IP, 5 K.
Hitting
Wilder Senior — White 3-5, 2B, 3 R, RBI, SB; Angevine 1-4, 3B, R; Politika 1-3, 3 RBI; Gooding 1-3, R, BB, SB; Shumway 1-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB; Flodstrom 1-2, RBI, BB, SB; Townsend 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB.
