The Wolves’ season came to a close with an 8-4 loss to Eatonville on May 26 in the 2A state tournament at Carlon Park, finishing the tourney 0-2 after a pair of close losses.
“We couldn’t get the hits today and I think we left (pitcher) Shelby (Jones) in there for one too many innings,” Sequim coach Tim Lusk said.
Sequim (14-12) held an early 1-0 lead when Chloie Sparks led off with a double off the wall in center field.
Two batters later, Adrienne Haggerty smashed a double to the right center gap to score Sparks.
Eatonville took the lead by scoring four runs on just two hits in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of two errors in the infield and a wild pitch.
“You can’t give a good team extra opportunities,” Lusk said. “They will make you pay.”
The Cruisers padded their lead when Kyle Koszykowski hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth to go up 8-2.
Isabelle Dennis had a two-run single with the bases loaded in Sequim’s final at-bats in the bottom of the seventh, but the Wolves could come no closer.
“I’ve worked with the seniors for three years and they will be tough to replace. We had some sophomores step up and do the job, so we will be back at it next year,” Lusk said. “The growth we showed from the beginning of the season to now was really fun to be a part of. We were playing our best at districts and in spots here at state.”
Sequim was a couple of big plays away from earning an upset earlier in the tourney but wound up falling 5-2 to Mountlake Terrace’s Hawks in the tournament’s opening round.
Sequim’s Jones and Chloie Sparks both doubled with two outs in the top of the second and third, respectively, but couldn’t put together two-out rallies to score a run in either frame.
“We weren’t able to get those clutch hits when we needed,” Lusk said.
Jones pitched well, scattering 10 hits, but served up a high meatball to Jazz Zenks in the bottom of the third that Zenks deposited beyond the left-field fence for a two-run home run and a 3-0 lead.
“Shelby pitched a really good game, she only gave up one bad pitch,” Lusk said.
The Wolves trimmed Mountlake Terrace’s lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth.
Jordan Bentz and Haggerty drew walks to open the inning and Bentz scored when Dennis reached on an error on a throw to first base.
Raelynn Opdyke then blooped a single just past second base to bring in Haggerty.
Haggerty singled and stole second in the sixth and Dennis walked, but the Hawks recorded three quick outs to shut down Sequim’s best chance.
Port Angeles nearly brought the 2A trophy to the Olympic Peninsula but fell 5-1 in the title game to WF West (Chehalis).
