Fastpitch: Still unbeatable

Sequim clobbers P.A., Olympic at league tourney, takes top seed to districts

 

 

Once again, the Sequim fastpitch team (19-0) proved to their Olympic League opponents they are tops.

The girls traveled to Bremerton on May 11 to take on the league’s best one more time at the Olympic League Softball Tournament.

 

The Wolves, the 2013 Olympic League champs, made the games look like hitting practice. Sequim first defeated the Olympic Trojans 13-0 followed by a 10-0 win over the Port Angeles Roughriders for the No. 1 seed going into districts.

 

With the two wins, they earned a first round bye and will play either North Mason or Sumner on Friday, May 17, at Sprinker Recreation Center in Tacoma.

 

If the girls win, they’re guaranteed a spot at the Class 2A State Championship.

 

Head Coach Mike McFarlen said his team treated the two wins as a serious playoff atmosphere.

“They wanted to win,” he said. “They don’t look past anyone.”

 

The team as a whole continued its hitting tear, including first baseman Alexas Besand, who went 3-7 in the two games, slamming in two home runs, including a grand slam, against Port Angeles.

“She’s been focusing in and recognizing the pitches she wants to swing at,” McFarlen said.

 

“It’s something the coaching staff has been working with her about and what pitch to hit at a certain time. Hats off to her.”

 

The Wolves combined to hit seven doubles against the Trojans and Rylleigh Zbaraschuk hit an in-the-park-home run.

 

Against Port Angeles, the Wolves didn’t break the game open until the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven behind Besand’s grand slam, Hannah Grubb knocking in two with a single and Columbia Haupt bringing in one with a single, too.

 

Makayla Bentz won both games, striking out seven in four innings against Olympic and going six innings with eight strikeouts, four walks and four hits against Port Angeles.

 

McFarlen said the Roughriders had some hard hits and good opportunities against the Wolves, but his team’s defense came together to help Bentz, particularly Zbaraschuk, who tracked down a deep fly ball, and Olivia Kirsch, who stopped a potential hit. “(Bentz) is great on the mound, but she is surrounded by a great team,” he said.

 

Earlier in the season, the Wolves set winning districts as one of their goals. To do so, they’ll need to win three games over the weekend to draw a No. 1 seed going into state.

 

McFarlen said Sumner (7-10 overall) plays some tough competition through its season against teams like White River and Fife. In two games, Sequim defeated North Mason 8-0 and 9-1.