Editor’s Note: Look for an update to this story with updated Port Angeles results Wednesday night.
SEQUIM — Sequim’s baseball season came to a close on its home diamond Tuesday in a 12-2 defeat at the hands of Franklin Pierce in a Class 2A District 2/3 Tournament loser-out contest.
The 12th-seeded Wolves kept pace with the No. 13 Cardinals all the way until the fourth inning after Ayden Holland’s bases-loaded walk brought home Hunter Tennell with one out in the bottom of the third. Unfortunately for Sequim, the potential for a big inning evaporated with a foul fly out and an infield pop fly to strand three Wolves on the bases.
Franklin Pierce took the lead with some big plays in the top of the fifth, a leadoff double, an RBI single, an RBI triple and an infield single to bring in three runs and take a 5-1 advantage.
Down 7-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Sequim again loaded the bases when Brayden White led off with a walk, Lincoln Bear singled and an Ethan Staples hit dropped into left field.
Ricky Jennings pinch hit and drew a walk to bring in Sequim’s second run, but the Wolves grounded into a pair of fielder’s choices sandwiched between a strikeout.
Sequim finished the season 11-10 and should return the bulk of its roster in 2024.
Toppy Robideau took the loss on the mound in his final game in purple and gold, going 5⅓ innings and allowing seven runs, six earned, on nine hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
“Toppy and Ricky both experienced a very unique four years of baseball and I’m very happy for them to be able to experience some success this year and reach the playoffs,” coach Dave Ditlefsen said. “They both welcomed in and supported their younger teammates and helped create a winning culture going forward.”
White River 5, Port Angeles 3
BUCKLEY — Nathan Basden and Kole Acker each singled to left and the Roughriders brought the go-ahead run to the plate with no outs in the top of the seventh but couldn’t tie it up in a winner-to-state District 2/3 Tournament game Tuesday.
A sacrifice bunt moved the pair into scoring position, but a strikeout and fly out ended the contest.
Port Angeles (13-6-1) hosted Franklin Pierce in a loser-out contest late Wednesday after press deadline.
If the Riders won that game, they will play the Sammamish/Olympic winner at Foss High School in Tacoma at 4 p.m. Saturday in a loser-out, winner-to-state contest.
In Tuesday’s game, the Hornets took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, chasing Acker from the game after he hit a batter and gave up back-to-back singles to go up 4-3.
Blake Sohlberg came on in relief and walked the first batter he faced before allowing a sacrifice fly and getting a pop out to get out of the inning.
Colton Romero had tied it up for the Riders at 3-3 in the fifth when he singled, moved to third on Elijah Flodstrom’s double to right and scored on an error.
Romero opened things up for Port Angeles when he drew a first-inning walk, advanced to third on Flodstrom’s single to right and stole home. Flodstrom followed when he came home on a Josiah Gooding ground ball that was mishandled by the White River second baseman.
Napavine 16, Forks 9
NAPAVINE — The Forks baseball season came to an end with a 16-9 loss to Napavine in the District 4 2B tournament Tuesday.
The Spartans finished their season with a record of 9-7.
Forks was down just 11-9 entering the seventh inning, but Napavine scored five runs in the top of the seventh to pull away.
Gunner Rogers was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Aiden Salazar had a hit and two runs scored, and Landin Davis had a hit, a run scored and an RBI. Dylan Micheau had an RBI and three walks.
On the mound, Salazar went five innings, allowing five hits and six earned runs, while striking out two and walking five. Landen Olson and Emmanuel Hernandez-Stansbury went a combined two innings, allowing five hits and seven earned runs. They struck out two.
Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere contributed to this story.
