Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Facing three teams Sequim had already squashed once this season, coach Mel Hendrickson simply hoped his Wolves wouldn't overlook any Olympic League foe.

For one inning, those fears came true.

"We spotted them a run and I thought, "Oh geez, (this is) the game I was worried about," Hendrickson said, watching Olympic's Trojans put a run on the scoreboard on Friday afternoon.

Not to worry. Sequim scored in five of the next six innings and freshman hurler Demiree Briones shut down the visiting Trojans on five hits for a 10-1 league victory.

The win puts Sequim (9-4 in Olympic League, 11-4 overall) within striking distance of Klahowya for the league's No. 2 seed to districts behind undefeated North Mason.

After the semi-shaky start, Sequim put runners on and forced Olympic to try to catch the Wolves' base-stealers.

"Once we put some pressure on them, they folded," Hendrickson said.

At the plate, Briones also was 2-for-4 with a triple, Sarah Donahue had three hits and both Cindy Miller and Kathryn Roeber had two hits. Chelsie Winfield had a double in Sequim's 12-hit attack.

Briones went the distance on the mound, giving up just one walk and striking out three batters in seven innings.

Hendrickson hopes to have Briones mix her pitches more as Sequim heads to the playoffs.

Sequim was slated to play at home against Klahowya on April 27 - results were unavailable at press time. Sequim takes on Port Townsend at home on May 1 and plays at Port Angeles on May 4 before ending the regular season May 18 at Chimacum.

The district playoffs are May 22 at Sprinker Fields in Tacoma. With the No. 3 seed, the Wolves would be the visiting team to face the No. 2 Nisqually League team in a loser-out contest. A No. 2 seed gives Sequim a home game against the Nisqually No. 3 team.



Wolves bite Vikings

In a battle of the purple-clad players on April 22,

Sequim proved the victors.

Miller had two hits and Briones was 1-for-2 with two runs scored as Sequim knocked off the 3A North Kitsap Vikings, 8-1.

"That first (Viking) pitcher was throwing a lot of off-speed pitches," Hendrickson said. "It was throwing us off. We can't let down - these teams can be dangerous."



Sequim blanks Bremerton

Quick with the glove, infielder Lea Hopson showed she's quick with the bat, too.

Hopson blasted two home runs and scored three times as the Wolves dethroned the Knights from Bremerton 11-0 on April 20.

Maddy Zbaraschuk was 2-for-4 with a triple, double and a run, Donahue was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, Winfield had two hits and Briones doubled.

Winfield nabbed the win on the mound, giving up just one hit and striking out four in three innings. Lauren Hendrickson worked the final four innings, striking out three and giving up just two hits.



Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.