PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles baseball team overcame the rain and its rival to secure second place in the Olympic League on Tuesday at Volunteer Field.
The Roughriders (11-5, 12-6) scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to beat Sequim 5-3 on Tuesday.
The weather was stormy and cold, and the field was muddy but the stakes were too high with playoff spots on the line for both teams to postpone the game.
“This is the worst I’ve seen,” Riders coach Bob Withrow said of the weather after the game.
“[Sequim] wanted to get it in, too. That’s why they were as tolerant with this as we were.”
Along with second place in the league on the line and facing its rival, Port Angeles also wanted to avenge its 14-1 loss to the Wolves on April 11.
Wolves had shot for 2nd
Sequim, too, was playing for second place in league.
A Sequim win would have given the Wolves and Riders identical league records, and a season sweep would have given Sequim the advantage.
With the loss, the Wolves (9-7, 10-10) finish third in the Olympic League.
By finishing in the top three, both teams have automatic berths in the district tournament, and begin sub-district seeding play Friday.
On Tuesday, the teams had to battle the weather as well as each other.
Following a brief rain delay between the first and second innings, the rain calmed to a drizzle for the remainder of the game.
The weather was nearly a huge factor in the bottom of the sixth, though.
With the score tied, 3-3, one out and runners on second and third, Sequim intentionally walked Port Angeles’ Eli Fiscilini to put the force-out in play.
The Riders were hoping to get one score to break the tie, so Brian DeFrang attempted a suicide squeeze.
But the bunt died in the mud around home plate, and the Wolves touched home for the second out.
“Needed the one [run]. They knew we needed the one, we knew we needed the one,” Withrow said of the squeeze attempt.
“That’s where that wet home plate kind of hurt us, because that ball just stuck.
“It just sat there, made it easy for them. On dry ground we get that [run] in fairly easy.”
Port Angeles’ Marcus Konopaski then hit a grounder to shortstop, and it looked like DeFrang would be out at second base and the inning would be over.
However, the throw to second base went to the outer edge of the infield, and Fiscilini and Brad Rondeau scored the decisive runs during the scramble for the ball.
The win capped a season turnaround for the Riders.
Port Angeles has won seven of its last eight games and transformed itself from a middle-of-the-pack team to second place in the Olympic League.
Cole Uvila, who started at pitcher, believes the Riders are more united since getting blown out by Sequim last month.
“It’s awesome, coming back from last time when they beat us down there,” Uvila said.
“We’re a new team now, and having a lot more fun. We really came together as a team.”
Tuesday’s win required a combined team effort.
And the Riders’ bats got started early.
In the bottom of the first, Easton Napiontek hit a two-run double down the right-field line, scoring DeFrang and Marcus Konopaski.
The Riders’ lead increased to 3-0 when Michael Konopaski’s grounder got past the Wolves’ infield, allowing Uvila to score.
Over the next four innings, Port Angeles’ offense was held in check by Sequim pitchers Jake Hudson and Karsten Wake.
The Riders also enjoyed solid pitching.
Uvila put in three strong innings, and Wesley Giddings followed up last week’s no-hitter by allowing only one hit and one run and striking out four in four innings.
“Cole came out, on short notice, and he pitched his heart out, and he always does,” Withrow said. “He gives us everything he’s got.
“And then we went to Wesley, and he did what he does.”
Both hurlers benefitted from good defense, particularly from the Konopaski brothers.
With the score 3-2 and two outs in the top of the third, Sequim’s Kyler Johnston hit a fast grounder that looked destined to bring in the tying run.
But a diving Michael Konopaski was able to knock the ball down and keep it in the infield.
Zach Lovick quickly grabbed the ball and threw to home plate, where catcher Marcus Konopaski tagged Fred Serrano to end the threat.
“I just kind of laid out and hoped I got it,” Michael Konopaski said. “I hit it, and then Zach got it and got the out for us.”
To Withrow, Michael Konopaski’s effort exemplified Port Angeles’ season turnaround.
“These guys are going to do what it takes to make the play,” Withrow said. “They’re willing to throw their body in front of it and stop the ball.
“That was a great play, and it was huge at that time, getting that guy out of scoring position.”
The brothers hooked up for another big out in the top of the fifth when Sequim’s Nick Ramirez attempted to steal second base.
He got a good jump from first, but Marcus Konopaski made a quick throw to second base where Michael made a nifty catch and tagged out Ramirez.
The Riders’ complete team performance pleased their coach.
“I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Withrow said. “The defense came up with some big plays and we had hits when we needed them.
“They’ve just been playing together and it’s a different guy every night. Everybody finds a way to contribute.”
Napiontek believes the magnitude of Tuesday’s victory extends beyond the regular season.
“It’s the biggest win of the season, without a doubt,” Napiontek said. “Clinches second place for us, and sets us up pretty nice for the playoffs.
“And I’d say it’s the biggest win for all the seniors in their careers.”
Next up for both teams is the Class 2A sub-district tournament.
Port Angeles now plays at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in Silverdale on Friday at 4 p.m. where they will face the winner of a South Puget Sound League tiebreaker for first place between White River and Fife.
The Riders will be playing for one of the top four seeds to the district playoffs.
Sequim, meanwhile, plays the loser of that first-place tiebreaker on Friday at Enumclaw High School. The game is tentatively scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.
The Wolves will be playing for district seeds five through eight.
Port Angeles 5, Sequim 3
Sequim 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 — 3 4 3
Port Angeles 3 0 0 0 0 2 x — 5 5 0
WP- Giddings (4-1); LP- Wake
Pitching Statistics
Sequim: Hudson 5 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 K, 2 BB; Wake 1 IP, 1 K, 2 R, 1 H, 1 BB.
Port Angeles: Uvila 3 IP, 5 K, 2 R, 3 H, 4 BB; Giddings 4 IP, 4 K, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB.
Hitting Statistics
Sequim: Ramirez 2-4; Serrano 1-2, R, RBI.
Port Angeles: Marcus Konopaski 2-4, 2B, R; Napiontek 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI.