SPORTS: Sequim softball team seeking second state championship in row

SEQUIM — Thirty-two wins in a row and still counting.

The Sequim softball team, the defending Class 2A state champion, had a rare perfect season in 2011 (28-0) and currently is 4-0 in the rain-splattered 2012 campaign.

Make no doubt that the Wolves are making another run for the top trophy, but that they know it could be a little more difficult this time around.

They know they are now the team to beat in 2012.

“It definitely feels like we have a target on our backs,” senior pitcher Demiree Briones said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“We should do all right. Hopefully, we can go all the way [again].”

Fortunately for the Wolves, many players return from last season’s championship team.

Missing, though, is coach Joel Lewis, who resigned in July in order to stay home with her newborn daughter.

Replacing Lewis is Mike McFarlen, a Sequim graduate who coached the school’s junior varsity softball team last year.

McFarlen isn’t fazed by the standard Lewis set in 2011 when she led the Wolves to an unblemished record in her only season at Sequim.

“The game’s the same,” McFarlen said, “and this is a really good group of girls.”

The best among them is Briones, the team’s ace.

Despite her experience and talent, though, the Wolves won’t rely solely on Briones.

“She’s our horse,” McFarlen said, “but we want our pitchers to be fresh in the state tournament, so we won’t over-pitch anybody.”

McFarlen is excited about newcomer Makayla (Muck) Bentz, who is serving as Sequim’s No. 2 pitcher.

Though the Wolves are loaded with veterans — featuring six juniors and three seniors — they also have many players at new positions this year.

Briones said she thinks this has caused some stress because everyone is trying to get comfortable with their new places on the field.

One person on the move is Rylleigh Zbaraschuk, who has switched from center field to shortstop.

Briones said she feels Zbaraschuk is up for the challenge of her new role, and is expecting a nice season from her teammate, both offensively and defensively.

“She plays all the time, and you can put her anywhere,” Briones said. “[At the plate], she can lead off with a homer.”

Along with Briones and Zbaraschuk, McFarlen expects productive seasons from Bailey Rhodefer, Hannah Grubb, Columbia Haupt and Kinzie Winfield.

“We should be really good,” McFarlen said. “I think the only way we’ll lose is if we beat ourselves. I look for us to make it back [to the state championship].”

Despite his confidence in his squad, McFarlen doesn’t expect an easy path to a second consecutive state title.

He singles out Port Angeles and Kingston as teams he believes will offer the biggest challenge to Sequim’s defense of the Olympic League title.

The Wolves put all teams on notice when they opened the season with a 20-0 beatdown of Klahowya in league action.

In that game, Briones pitched all five innings, striking out six and allowing only two hits.

At the plate, she went 4-for-4 with three doubles, two RBIs and four runs scored.

On the other hand, the Wolves later stumbled against Olympic, winning by just one run.

“We had a lot of errors in that game,” McFarlen said.

Perfection, though, is not this team’s goal.

However, a second state championship is.

More in Sports

Sequim;'s Jericho Julmist goes up for a layup against the defense of Port Angeles' Brock Hope. Also in on the play are Port Angeles' Blake Sohlberg (4), Matthew Miller (1) and Brody Pierce (11). Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News
BOYS BASKETBALL: Wolves pull away from Riders down the stretch

Raucous gym, spectacular plays in 56-43 Sequim victory

Port Angeles roughriders
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Port Angeles girls fend off Sequim comeback in fourth quarter

East Jefferson gets 30 points from Dylin Shockley in win

PREP BASKETBALL: Forks boys regroup, roll past Raymond-South Bend

Shockley drains (8) 3-pointers, scores 30 for East Jefferson girls

Chloe Gaydeski of Forks battles for a rebound over Ilwaco's Madison Smolorak on Monday in Forks. The Spartans won their Pacific 2B League opener 63-23. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)
PREP ROUNDUP: Forks girls romp; Neah Bay girls win 27th straight

Plagued by turnovers all season, the Forks girls basketball team… Continue reading

Left, Calm Beneath Castles will be shown at the Port Angeles Field Hall and Events Center on Jan. 16. Right, Jaida Wood, Pacific Lutheran University.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Three Red Devils named all-state and much more

New ski film, razor clams and former Rider shines for PLU

Penina Vailolo, left, and Kay Botkin, East Jefferson girls basketball.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Penina Vailolo, Kay Botkin, East Jefferson girls basketball

Penina Vailolo and Kay Botkin both had huge games last week to… Continue reading

Peninsula College's Jaiden Blackmon (24) looks for the ball from teammate Antonio Odum (11). Blackmon led the shorthanded Pirates in scoring in two straight games this weekend. (Rick Ross/Peninsula College)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Short-handed Peninsula men drop pair of games

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Shorthanded Peninsula men can’t overcome rash of injuries in pair of losses

Sequim Wolves
BOYS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Sequim boys improve to 8-0 after crushing Fife

Forks boosts record to 9-1 after win over Ilwaco

East Jefferson Rivals
PREP GIRLS ROUNDUP: East Jefferson, Neah Bay girls win

Port Angeles falls to Central Kitsap on the road

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Daily News relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in