PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles baseball team excelled in all facets of the game — pitching, defense and clutch hitting — to beat one of the best teams in the Olympic League, putting themselves at the top of the league standings.
The Roughriders beat North Kitsap 4-1 in a pitchers’ duel between the Riders’ Colton Romero and North Kitsap’s Dawsyn Anderson. Romero was sharper, allowing just three hits, one walk and one earned run in a complete-game victory.
Romero came in to the game with a 2-0 record after throwing two straight no-hitters. His no-hitter streak quickly came to an end as the second Vikings’ batter rapped a single. His scoreless streak ended when Anderson crushed a deep home run to left center in the third inning.
After Anderson’s home run, Romero was dominant, only allowing four total baserunners all game while striking out five.
“I knew it was bound to happen [allowing a hit]. I’m not going to let it affect me,” Romero said, who battled a tight hamstring all day.
After Anderson belted his home run, Romero credited catcher Flodstrom for his success afterward.
“He came up to me afterward and kept me calm. He slowed the game down,” Romero said.
Romero also credited his defense for much of his success.
“I got all these guys behind my back,” he said.
Romero has allowed three hits and one earned run this season in 16 innings pitched for an ERA of 0.44.
Coach Zac Moore said while Romero pitched well, catcher Luke Flodstrom “caught an amazing game. Our offense was able to execute.” He also credited the team’s errorless defense. The Riders didn’t so much as bobble a ball all game despite light showers coming down most of the afternoon.
The win put the Riders’ Olympic League record at 4-1, tied for tops among the 2A teams with North Kitsap, which came into the game undefeated in league. Bainbridge, a 3A school for a few more weeks, leads the league standings at 5-0.
The Riders used small ball and one huge hit by Rylan Politika to score its runs.
In the second inning, Port Angeles got up 2-0 thanks to a solid single by Kaleb Mullen and a perfect bunt down the first-base line by Josiah Gooding that went for a single. Jordan Shumway followed with an RBI single and Politika drove in Gooding with a groundout to the right side.
Clinging to a 2-1 lead in the fourth, Politika came up with a bomb. Shumway had gotten on base again with a single and Politika followed with a towering drive to the right-center fence, scoring Shumway all the way from first. Politika beat the throw to third for a triple.
Again, the Riders played small ball with Flodstrom laying down a perfect squeeze bunt down the first-base line to score Politika.
That was all the lead that Romero needed as he got the next six Vikings hitters out in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
Port Angeles (4-1, 7-1) is scheduled to play at North Kitsap (4-1, 5-3) again today.
A Roughriders game Saturday was moved to Port Angeles. The Riders will play Peninsula at 2:30 p.m. The game will be played at Civic Field if the weather is dry or Volunteer Field if the weather is wet.
Port Angeles 4, North Kitsap 1
NK 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 1 3 0
PA 0 2 0 2 0 0 x — 4 6 0
Pitching
Port Angeles — Romero 7 IP, 3 H, ER, 5 K, BB.
Hitting
Port Angeles — Politika 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI, R; Shumway 2-2, R, RBI, HBP; Mullen 1-1 R, 2 BB; Gooding 1-2, R, BB; Flodstrom RBI.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles pitcher Colton Romero throws in the second inning against North Kitsap on Tuesday at Volunteer Field in Port Angeles.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles shortstop Alex Angevine, right, tries to catch North Kitsap baserunner Alex Elton off the bag at second on Tuesday at Volunteer Field.
