SEQUIM — The surprise of the baseball season so far has been Sequim’s scorching start.
The Wolves are 4-0 and have outscored their opponents 44-6 by racking up at least 10 runs in each game.
They have two shutouts, including a 10-0 win over Kingston in five innings Monday.
Adding to the amazement of the start is that the starting lineup is packed with freshmen and sophomores who are contributing to Sequim’s success.
“It’s a young group that has come together,” coach Dave Ditlefsen said.
“We saw this group coming up, they had a lot of success. And they’re adjusting to the varsity level very well so far.”
Freshman Dylan Lott, who has been starting at shortstop and pitched a few innings, batted leadoff went 2 for 4 against the Buccaneers on Monday with a double, a steal, a run and an RBI.
Sophomore Evan Hurn batted second and drove in two runs and scored two.
The Nos. 3 and 4 hitters were two of the Wolves’ only seniors, outfielder Brett Wright and ace hurler Nick Johnston, both members of last year’s All-Peninsula team.
Johnston drove in two runs and pitched a one-hitter with five strikeouts.
After those two, sophomore Nigel Christian, who made many varsity starts in 2013, had one hit and drove in a run.
Following Christian were freshman Bailey Early (1 for 3), sophomore Daniel Harker (3 for 3, two doubles and two runs), junior Tanner Rhodefer (1 for 3, two runs) and junior Dusty Bates, who had a hit and two runs.
Ditlefsen knew Sequim’s pitching was deep and the fielding would be improved, but he didn’t expect the Wolves to be so explosive with their bats.
“Offensively, we’ve come out hitting,” Ditlefsen said. “That’s been the most pleasant surprise.”
In a poll conducted by the Kitsap Sun, the Olympic League’s coaches voted Sequim to finish seventh in the nine-team league.
So far, the Wolves look like contenders for at least a postseason berth. But only four games into the season, it might be too early to tell.
“We still have things we need to work on,” he said. “There will be mistakes that young kids make.”
Sequim could be in for a learning experience today on the road against North Kitsap (3-1), which was picked by the league’s coaches as the favorite to win the league title.
Sequim 10, Kingston 0
Kingston 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 1
Sequim 1 4 0 0 5 — 10 12 0
WP- Johnston; LP- Shuey
Pitching Statistics
Kingston: Shuey 2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB; Rabedeaux 2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, BB, 5 K.
Sequim: Johnston 5 IP, H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 5 K.
Hitting Statistics
Kingston: Shuey 1-1.
Sequim: Harker 3-3, 2 2B, R, RBI; Johnston 2-2, 2 RBI; Lott 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, SB, Hurn 1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
