State champs down Wolves

Consider this progress.

Bremerton’s Knights, the defending state 2A/3A state champions, showed exactly why they’ve got a good chance to repeat in a 6-1 win against Sequim in Port Angeles Nov. 25.

But the Wolves were able to do something they couldn’t in three matches last year: take one Baker-format game.

Bremerton’s lineup, one that saw each bowler rack up between 335 and 346 pins for a two-game series, won both regular-format games 833-621 and 860-681, then took the first Baker game 172-102. But the Wolves battled to take the second Baker game, 168-158.

Johanna Ewing led Sequim with a 310 series (166-144) while Breanna Krumpe rolled a 277 series (125-152). Ewing had the Wolves’ top single game score while Samantha Whiteside knocked down 155 pins for

Sequim’s best second-game total.

Kirstie Williams led the Knights with 346 pins, followed closely by teammates Shannara Hankinson (339), Sam Smith (338), Misty Braddock and Ariel Wagg (335 each).

"They’re a lot more experienced and know what it takes to win," Sequim coach Randy Perry said of the Knights. "The girls were extremely excited to win that Baker game. I think they realized what they can do once they put a little more practice into it."

The match was a reunion of sorts for Perry and Bremerton coach Dean Wagner, who grew up together and consider each other friends.

"He could see that we’re definitely not going to roll over," Perry said.

The Wolves were scheduled to take on Olympic, the fourth-place team from last year’s state competition, on Dec. 2 – results were not available at press time. Sequim travels to Gig Harbor Dec. 4 to take on Peninsula High School, a rematch of Sequim’s season-opening opponent. On Nov. 13, Peninsula edged Sequim 4-3.

"We should beat them; we should have beat them (the first time)," Perry said.