Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Headed into the final two weeks of the regular season, Sequim's Wolves are still in the hunt for the Olympic League 2A championship.

With another big win against North Mason on April 15, the Wolves essentially have locked up a playoff spot and, at minimum, the No. 2 seed coming out of the Olympic League.

But Sequim coach Dave Brasher said he knows his team still has a chance to catch 2A leader Kingston.

The Wolves started last week with a tough, 3-0 loss at home to North Kitsap. Ashe Carlson scored two second-half goals to cinch the Viking's victory.

"The kids kind of built (the Vikings) up bigger than they might have been," Brasher said. "They were a little intimidated ... and weren't really mentally ready to (play with them)."

North Kitsap out-shot Sequim 11-7.

The Wolves recovered quickly, thrashing North Mason 8-2 in Belfair on April 15. Tony Breen and Nick Camporini scored two goals each while David LaBeaume had a score and three assists.

"We talked about ... the need to get mentally ready to play come out strong from the start," Brasher said.

Two minutes in, LaBeaume found Erik Huston for the game's first score, followed by Breen's first goal of the season from LaBeaume just 18 minutes later.

Sequim out-shot the Bulldogs 14-4.

The win got so lopsided Brasher used two non-goalies - Gerry Azanza and LaBeaume - later in the game, giving keeper Matt Bedinger a chance to play some offense. Bedinger converted, scoring on a penalty kick with four minutes remaining.

Evan Watkins also had a goal and an assist in the win, while Austin Sanford and Jordy Shearer each had assists.

Sequim closed the week with a 4-1 win against Cascade Christian in Puyallup on April 17. LaBeaume had two scores and Erik Huston chipped in a score and an assist to topple the Cougars for the first time since 2006, the last time the teams met (Sequim won that game 4-1 as well).

Azanza broke open a 1-1 tie two minutes into the second half on an assist from Sanford. Ten minutes later Huston scored and LaBeaume added the clincher at 64 minutes.

Sequim was scheduled to take on Bremerton at home on April 20 - results were unavailable at press time. Sequim hosts Klahowya on April 22, travels to Port Angeles on April 23 and hosts league-leading Kingston on April 24 before traveling to Port Townsend on April 25, their fifth game in seven days.

"We'll try to keep momentum going, to play steady (and) keep the intensity up next week," Brasher said.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.