SEQUIM — The Olympic Crosscutters kept the pedal down on the basepaths and picked up two wins against Gig Harbor in an American Legion AA baseball doubleheader.
Olympic’s strength, its speed, was featured heavily in 12-2 and 12-10 victories last Saturday at Sequim High School.
“We’ve been swiping a lot of bags, really,” Crosscutters coach John Qualls said.
“I think we had 16 stolen bases between the two games.”
The team also is handling the switch from aluminium to wood bats.
“They are getting used to it,” Qualls said of the switch from high school season in which aluminum bats are the norm, not wood.
“The kids elected for that, and it really makes you more of a pure hitter.”
Gavin Velarde had no trouble finding the bases in the 12-2 win in the opener.
He went 3 for 3, stroking a double, bringing in three RBIs, scoring three runs and swiping four bases.
Ian Dennis was 2 for 3 with two runs and a stolen base.
Bailey Early had two base hits, two RBIs and three runs, and Tyrus Beckett came through with an RBI single and two runs.
Nigel Christian struck out five in four innings on the mound, giving up three walks, two hits and an earned run.
Nick Faunce walked two in his inning of work but allowed no runs or hits.
Olympic’s bats kept it up in the second game, jumping out to a big early lead.
“We got up 10-0 right away but gave up some walks and hit a little snag to let them back in it,” Qualls said.
Velarde kept up the pressure offensively, going 3 for 5 with two doubles, stealing four more bags, and adding two RBIs and two runs.
Christian tripled twice and singled, plating two RBIs and scoring a run.
Austin Hilliard singled, walked twice, brought home a run, stole two bases and scored two runs.
Logan Hankinson doubled twice and had an RBI and two runs.
Lane Dotson picked up the win on the mound, striking out three, walking two and allowing no runs on two hits in three innings.
The Crosscutters are in action through Sunday at the 24-team GSL Summer Kickoff Tournament in Tacoma.