Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Playing the fifth game in five days, the Sequim Wolves ran out of steam.

Port Angeles ripped Sequim pitching for three runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 9-3 Olympic League win in Sequim Friday afternoon.

Still, after splitting the four league match-ups this week, the Wolves have guaranteed themselves a postseason berth and still have a chance to catch 2A division-leading Kingston before season's end for the top district berth.

"Sure I'm disappointed,"

Sequim coach Dave Ditlefsen said following Friday's loss to Port Angeles. "The kids had a big week and we threw our best kids out there. We got beat by a very good team."

The Roughriders' pitchers - Kevin Richter for four innings, Danny Romero for three - tossed a four-hitter, giving up singles to Reed Omdal, Spencer Middleton and two to Max Royall.

Roughrider batters got to Sequim's Alex Gillis, who took the loss, and Royall, and also took advantage of 10 Sequim bases on balls.

Port Angeles remains in a deadlock for the top league position with Olympic.

"I like these games," Ditlefsen said. "It gives us a playoff atmosphere."

Royall had two RBIs for the Wolves, who wound up topping Olympic and Port Townsend this week and dropping games to Port Angeles, Klahowya and non-league foe Coupeville.

Sequim's April 29 match-up with Kingston should determine much of the playoff picture - results were unavailable at press time. Ditlefsen said he might try to schedule make-up games with Forks or Chimacum to prepare for the postseason.

The Wolves conclude the regular season May 1 at Port Townsend.



Sequim gets big lead,

hangs on for win vs. P.T.

For a winless league foe, the Redskins don't seem to give in.

Sequim built an 8-1 lead by the seventh inning but Port Townsend took advantage of bloop singles and some sloppy play to make it close April 24, eventually falling 8-6 to the Wolves.

Royall was 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Ben Grubb had a triple and drove in three runs as the Wolves won the make-up contest at home.

Sequim starter Spencer Middleton was sharp, throwing six innings of three-hit ball and striking out six Redskins. "Spencer gave us exactly what we needed, with a long week of baseball," Ditlefsen said. "(We) couldn't ask for a better game out of him."

Omdal and Jonathan Thom each went two-for-three while Gillis added two steals and Jason Baker scored twice.

The Redskins scored five unearned runs off reliever Jeremie Oliver in the seventh.

"Port Townsend's always played us tough," Ditlefsen said. "I told the guys before this game to throw the records out the window because they always come ready to play."



Whidbey visitors

win match-up of Wolves

With a break in league games Wednesday, Sequim used several reserves in a 12-7 loss to Coupeville (Whidbey Island) April 23.

The Wolves ripped Coupeville pitching for eight hits, but the other "Wolves" squad touched up Thom for nine runs - five of them earned - in the first three innings.

Preston McFarlen drove in two runs while Oliver went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Matt Rife also drove in a run to lead Sequim's offense.

Omdal pitched three innings of four-hit ball while Matt Bereiter tossed one shutout inning, giving up just one hit.



Sequim's 5-run

inning tops Trojans

The slippery gloves that hurt them so badly a game before saved the day against Olympic.

Sequim committed just one error and pounded out 11 hits as they toppled 3A division-leading Olympic 7-4 in Silverdale April 24.

Grubb homered and got the win in relief for the Wolves.

Royall and Thom had two hits and an RBI each while Middleton was 2-for-3 and Omdal drove in two runs to lead Sequim's offense.

After Gillis gave the Wolves four-plus strong innings, the Wolves tore into Olympic starter Elliot Thorsen for five runs in the top of the sixth. Grubb made the lead stand up, giving up a single run in the seventh inning.



Eagles' Eley

handcuffs Wolves

Who needs an ace?

Klahowya has been without star pitcher - and Division I prospect - Rusty Devitt for much of the season, but Eric Eley made his pitch to be the staff ace after throwing a complete game win against Sequim April 21, striking out six and walking just one.

The Wolves did manage to touch up Eley for eight hits but managed just two, two-run innings. Thom had two RBIs while Grubb and Middleton had two hits apiece, but it wasn't enough.

Klahowya's Seth Green had three RBIs as the Eagles grabbed a 5-0 lead by the third inning.

Royall took the loss, but gave up no earned runs; the Wolves committed four fielding miscues leading to several unearned runs.