Fastpitch: Sequim makes its seventh state appearance in a row

The Wolves’ fastpitch squad (14-10) sealed their seventh consecutive trip to the Class 2A state tournament last weekend.

They battled back through the consolation bracket with a pair of loser-out victories, 8-0 vs. River Ridge on May 19 and 9-1 in the rubber match with Olympic League foe Olympic the next day.

They finished with a walloping of Fife 15-2 to end the West Central District Softball Tournament on May 20.

They’ll open state at 10 a.m. against Mountlake Terrace (18-4 overall) on May 26 in Carlon Park in Selah.

Sequim coach Tim Lusk was happy to keep Sequim’s state tradition going in his first season in charge, particularly for seniors Adrienne Haggerty, Jordan Bentz and Chloie Sparks.

“It means a lot to keep things moving forward,” he said. “It’s really satisfying to see the team play so well and make it back.”

Adrienne Haggerty blasted a solo home run in the win over the Trojans and Bobbi Sparks had a big two-run double.

Sequim faced Fife, which the Wolves beat 2-1 to open district play on May 19, for seeding late the next day.

Shelby Jones came through in a big way in the pitchers circle, according to coach Tim Lusk.

Jones allowed one run to Fife in the opening contest, shut down River Ridge and held down the Trojans.

“She really had a great tournament, pitching and hitting,” Lusk said. “Raelyn Opdyke also caught some good games behind the plate for us.”

The Wolves tallied five doubles in the victory over River Ridge.

Jones also went the distance as Sequim won its district playoff opener 2-1 over Fife.

That loss sent the Wolves into the consolation bracket with a 9-1 loss to Eatonville Friday afternoon. Isabelle Dennis homered for Sequim in the loss.

Sequim 2, Fife 1

Jones scattered five hits and one walk while striking out six as Sequim opened the Class 2A West Central District Softball Tournament with a 2-1 win over Fife.

Sequim (11-9) advanced to face Eatonville later Friday afternoon. The winner of that contest earns a state tournament berth.

“She had a real good game against Archbishop Murphy earlier this season,” Lusk said.

“Shelby said this week that she thought she could feel an Archbishop Murphy-type game coming on.”

Jones helped herself with three putouts defensively and was aided by the error-free defense of her teammates, particularly some nifty nabs on hard-hit balls to infielders Bentz, Chloie Sparks and Bobbie Sparks.

“When we play error-free ball defensively and put the barrel on the ball offensively we are pretty tough,” Lusk said.

Left fielder Maddison Nute also made a good catch on a pop fly early in the contest. Nute was celebrating her birthday Friday.

The Wolves struck first in the top of the opening inning, when both Sparks singled and Bentz lined an RBI single up the middle for a 1-0 lead.

Sequim stranded base runners at second and third with one out in the top of the fourth. Latisha Robideau struck out and Haggerty missed out on a two-run single by inches when she lined out to second base.

The Wolves manufactured an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Jones singled to right, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by RaeLynn Opdyke and scored on a roped singled to right-center field.

Fife answered back in the bottom of the sixth when Nicole Burns singled to right field, advanced to third on two wild pitches and scored when Sequim threw to first base on a dropped third strike.

Jones got out of the inning and set the Trojans down in order in their final at-bat.

Statistics for Sequim’s final districts games were not available.