DIAMOND ROUNDUP: Clark, Zimmer toss perfect game for potent Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — Teagan Clark and Cheyenne Zimmer combined for a perfect game in the circle for Port Angeles softball in a 17-0 Olympic League win over Kingston in five innings Thursday at Dry Creek Elementary.

“Both pitchers were hitting their spots all night and the defense backed them up with some great plays,” coach Randy Steinman said.

Clark struck out two in her two innings and Zimmer totaled three strikeouts in her three innings of work.

The pair were lifted by 17 hits by the Roughriders, including three home runs. Clark had two of those hits, scoring twice, driving in a run and stealing a base.

Leadoff hitter Zoe Smithson opened the game with a solo bomb and Lily Halberg followed with another solo shot in the bottom of the first.

Halberg reached base in every plate appearance, going 3 for 3 with the dinger, two runs and five runs driven in. She also walked and stole a base.

Natalie Robinson also belted a homer on a big day for the Port Angeles offense.

Freshman Heidi Leitz also went 4 for 4, scoring twice and driving in a pair.

The Riders (5-1, 9-1) will visit rival Sequim on Tuesday.

Port Angeles 17, Kingston 0

King. 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0

PA9 0 0 8 X — 17 17 0

WP: Clark. SV: Zimmer

Pitching

Port Angeles: Clark 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K; Zimmer 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K.

Hitting

Port Angeles: Smithson 1-1, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB; L. Halberg 3-3, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB; Robinson 1-3, BB, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB; Worthington 1-1; Clark 2-4, 2 R, RBI, SB; Leitz 4-4, 2 R, 2 RBI; Zimmer 1-2; Smith 1-2, 2B, R; Kimball 1-1, 2B, 2 RBI, BB.

Baseball Port Angeles 8, Bremerton 6, 9 innings

BREMERTON — The Roughriders rallied in their last at-bat to tie and eventually defeat the Knights, earning some revenge for a season-opening defeat.

“The first game left a sour taste in our mouth and as a coaching staff we were excited to see them again,” coach Casey Dietz said. “We are a long ways from where we started and this game showed we’ve come a long way.”

Trailing 6-3 after allowing a four-run fifth inning, Colton Romero came on in relief and with the help of some solid defense, shut things down on the mound.

“He ended up pitching five innings for us and held them scoreless,” Dietz said. “He was exceptional, with a really good fastball and curveball.”

Romero scattered five hits and a walk while striking out 10.

Port Angeles put together a number of hard-earned walks to get back in the game in the sixth and seventh.

“These were tough at-bats, we showed good plate discipline,” Dietz said.

A Romero sacrifice fly sent the game to extra innings.

Elijah Flodstrom was hit by a pitch to open the final frame, John Vaara followed with a single and James Burkhardt came through with the eventual game-winning single.

“James Burkhardt who has been key for us, sets the tone with his hard work, hit a ground-ball single through the six hole [shortstop] to make it 7-6. And then we worked some more walks to bring in another insurance run.”

Burkhardt went 3 for 5 with a run and the RBI. Michael Soule went 2 for 4 with a walk.

Vaara and Flodstrom combined on a defensive gem to preserve the win.

“The second out was a chopper to Elijah Flodstrom, a tough play down the line,” Dietz said. “He attacked the baseball and John Vaara made one of the best plays coach [Jim] Clem and coach [Larsson] Chapman and I have ever seen. And we’ve seen a lot of baseball.

“Vaara came off the first-base bag to make the play, barrel rolled and swung his arm back to dive to the bag and got the runner out by a step, a great play by both Elijah to get ball off quickly and give John a chance and for John to come off the bag, do a barrel roll and still tag the bag with his glove.”

Vaara finished the game 2 for 4 with a double and a run.

Port Angeles (4-3, 6-6) is scheduled to play Stadium today.

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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.