Olympic League standings (final)
Team Lg. Over
North Kitsap* 10-1 15-2
Port Angeles* 9-3 12-7
Sequim* 7-4 13-6
Olympic* 7-6 11-10
Kingston 6-7 8-8
Bremerton 2-10 2-12
North Mason 1-11 2-16
* advances to district tournament
After splitting their first two West Central District games, Sequim needs a pair of wins this week to advance to state.
The Wolves got a big win to open the double elimination tourney on May 6, clobbering White River 10-1 at Curtis High School in University Place.
Austin Hilliard held the Hornets to a single hit — an RBI triple in the fourth inning — while striking out six over the mercy rule-shortened, five-inning affair.
“We got the bats going really well, played great defense,” Sequim coach Dave Ditlefsen said. “Just a complete game in all aspects.”
SHS leadoff hitter Gavin Velarde sparked the offense, going 3-for-3 with a single, double, triple and walk. He also drove in two runs, stole two bases and scored four times. James Thayer had three RBIs while Hilliard, Justin Porter and James Grubb each drove in a run.
White River, the South Puget Sound League’s No. 4 seed, committed six errors.
Later that day Sequim was bounced to the consolation bracket after falling to Eatonville, the SPSL No. 3 seed, 6-1.
Cruiser starter Colin Streich held Sequim to a single run over five innings but it wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth when Eatonville finally got to Sequim starter Ian Miller and Velarde in relief, breaking the game open with five runs.
“It was a pitcher’s duel between two lefties,” Ditlefsen said. “Ian Miller threw a great game.”
In the crucial sixth inning, Velarde made a behind-the-bag snag and looked to have the runner out at first, Ditlefsen said, but Eatonville got the benefit of the call.
A second bang-bang play on the next batter’s bunt attempt produced the same safe call at first, he said.
“If we get that (first) call, that changes the tone of the whole game,” Ditlefsen said.
“(It was) a real good game between two good teams; they’re deep, top to bottom.”
Daniel Fuller had three hits and Brooks Moeller and T.J. Goetz drove in two runs each for Eatonville.
Velarde had two of Sequim’s four hits and drove in the lone Wolf run.
Up next
Sequim takes on Steilacoom at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, needing to top the Sentinels to stay alive in the district tourney. Steilacoom lost to Port Angeles 4-1 in their district opener.
The winner takes on either Franklin Pierce or Olympic on May 13 at Franklin Pierce High School in a loser-out, winner-to-state game. That game’s winner plays later that day for the No. 5 or No. 6 seed to state.
“I think our confidence is real high,” Ditlefsen said. “When you get to the playoffs every team is good (but) we’re certainly confident heading into this part of the bracket.”
Out of the Olympic League, Sequim, Port Angeles and Olympic all won their opening district games but fell in the second round. North Kitsap, who had a first-round bye, topped River Ridge 5-0 in their opener and will take a top-four seed to state.
Wolves top Mount Tahoma
In their final regular season game, Sequim’s bats were on fire and nearly the entire pitching staff got some work in a 14-1, six-inning win over non-league 3A foe Mount Tahoma on May 3.
Hilliard, Grubb and Jared Thomas had three hits each, Miller and Jonathan Serrano had two RBIs each and Velarde added a pair of doubles in the 17-hit SHS attack.
Hilliard, Grubb, Velarde, Thayer, Cole Williams and Johnnie Young each threw an inning, holding Mount Tahoma to four hits and one unearned run while striking out nine.
