POSTSEASON BASEBALL: Port Angeles holds off Olympic to qualify for state tournament

Published 10:50 am Saturday, May 16, 2026

TACOMA — The Port Angeles baseball team won two straight games in the District 3 2A tournament consolation bracket with a steal of home helping to send the Roughriders to the state 2A tournament.

Port Angeles managed just four hits but manufactured a pair of runs to beat Olympic 2-1 to finish third in the tournament.

Brayden Martin won the pitchers’ duel, going six innings and allowing five hits. He struck out 10. Ethan Swenson pitched the seventh inning to earn the save.

The Riders got a run in the first inning when Carston Seibel came in to score on an error. That was enough for Martin, who kept the Trojans off the board for rest of the game.

The Riders got a crucial insurance run in the sixth inning when Swenson and Ian Smithson each walked. Swenson was able to move to third on a fielder’s choice, then came in to score on a steal of home.

It turned out that run was important as Olympic managed to rally for a run in the bottom of the seventh. Swenson came in to pitch and hit Olympic’s Cooper Burdick, then walked a batter. Burdick later stole third base and came in to score on a throwing error.

With the tying run at second base, Swenson was able to get a flyout to end the game.

Zach DeBray went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, while Bryce DeLeon and Abe Brenkman each had hits.

Olympic swept Port Angeles during the regular season.

Port Angeles (14-9) has now won eight out of nine games after starting the season 6-8.

The Riders were given the No. 15 seed at state will next play at the state 2A tournament vs. No. 2 seed Tumwater (20-4) at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wheeler Field in Centralia. If the Riders win, they would play another game Saturday afternoon in Centralia against either Ellensburg or Nathan Hale. Port Angeles beat Tumwater at state last year in an upset.

Port Angeles 2, Olympic 1

PA 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 4 2

Oly. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 — 1 5 1

Pitching

PA — Martin 6 IP, 5 H, 10 K; Swenson IP, K.

Hitting

PA — DeBray 2-3, 2 SB; DeLeon 1-3; Brenkman 1-3; Swenson 0-2, R, 2 SB.

Friday’s game Port Angeles 12, Steilacoom 2

The Port Angeles boys baseball team crushed Steilacoom 12-2 behind Kody Williams’ second-straight three-hitter, keeping the Roughriders alive for a trip to state.

With the Riders facing elimination, Williams was dealing against Steilacoom in Port Angeles District 3 2A tournament contest Friday evening, allowing just three singles and four walks. He struck out three.

Meanwhile, the Riders pounded out 10 hits, including three doubles.

Carson Waddell had a huge day, with two doubles and five RBIs. Owen Leitz went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs and Brenkman hit a double and drove in a run.

The game was actually quite close until the fifth inning when Port Angeles blew the contest open with a six-run fifth. Waddell and Brenkman had back-to-back doubles in that inning to drive in three runs.

Port Angeles 12, Steilacoom 2

PA 0 2 0 0 6 4 x —12 10 3

Ste. 1 0 0 1 0 0 x — 2 3 3

Pitching

PA — Williams 6 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 K.

Hitting

PA — Leitz 3-3, 2 R, 2 RBI; Waddell 2-4, 2 2B, 5 RBI; Brenkman 2-5, 2B, RBI.

Orting 11, Sequim 6

TACOMA — Sequim’s season ended in the third round of the District 3 2A tournament with an 11-6 loss to Orting.

The Wolves were right with Orting until the bottom of the fifth inning. Sequim had 6-5 lead, but Orting pulled away with a three-run fifth following by a three-run sixth.

Sequim’s season ended with a record of 8-14. The Wolves’ victories included a dramatic 9-8 victory over Bremerton On May 6 to qualify for the postseason and then a district tournament 4-3 win over Franklin Pierce.

Zeke Schmadeke was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Lincoln Bear was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Duran Ward was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI while Conner Oase had a hit, a run scored and an RBI.

On the mound, Devyn Dearinger went five innings, allowing six hits and six earned runs. He struck out four.

Orting 11, Sequim 6

Seq. 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 — 6 10 1

Ort. 0 0 5 0 3 3 — 11 8 2

Pitching

Seq. — Dearinger 5 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 4 K; Oase IP, 2 H, 3 ER, K.

Hitting

Seq. — Schmadeke 2-3, R, SB; Bear 2-3 2B, 2 RBI; Ward 2-4, R, RBI; Oase 1-4, R, RBI.