PORT ANGELES — Extra batting practice paid off for Ava Brenkman and the Port Angeles Roughriders softball team in a 13-2 win over Sequim in five innings Saturday.
Brenkman homered and doubled and drove in a pair of runs, and the senior was one of three Riders to leave the park in a 14-hit outpouring.
“We really pounded the ball around the park,” Brenkman said. “We’ve been working a lot at practice at just hitting the ball solid, and if you go up and think that to yourself, that’s what happens. We’ve been trying to fight against having a negative mind-set.”
Port Angeles coach Randy Steinman was pleased with his team’s execution in all phases and the number of players who contributed to the victory.
“We squared up on a lot of balls and we hit the ball extremely well,” Steinman said. “Teagan [Clark] pitched a phenomenal game. Our execution, we didn’t leave runners on base. We played like we practiced, and we had a great week of practice. Against Klahowya, they pounded the ball, so coming into the game I had complete confidence that we were going to hit the ball around the park a little. Everything just went our way.”
Sequim looked like they would be the first to break through in the top of the second when Lilly Fili and Caylee Rome both singled and advanced to scoring position.
Clark struck out Kiana Robideau and got a ground out to second by Greta Christianson, and Port Angeles catcher Zoe Smithson ended the threat with a snap throw to third base from her knees that doubled Robideau off the bag.
“Zoe picked a runner off of third and gunned somebody at second [in the fifth inning],” Steinman said. “That pickoff at third shut that inning down, and didn’t we come up right after that and have our big inning? Mojo and momentum are huge.”
Port Angeles batted around during a nine-run second inning. Peyton Rudd opened the scoring with a one-out solo home run to center field; Emi Halberg drove in a pair of runners with an RBI single; Jada Cargo-Acosta had a two-run double; Brenkman a two-run single; Taylor Worthington an RBI single and Clark’s bloop single into shallow right field drove in another pair of runs.
Smithson opened the bottom of the third with a solo homer and Brenkman added another solo shot to right field as Port Angeles built an insurmountable lead.
Sequim had trouble all game with intermediate popups between second base and right field and struggled to get the ball into the infield with the Riders taking advantage and moving up the base paths.
“Our fielding was really clean and we’ve been picking up our talk in the field,” Brenkman said. “We know where to go with the ball, and that’s important.”
Wolves catcher Christy Grubb was a highlight for Sequim with a two-run home run and a double.
Shortstop Hannah Bates came in to pitch with two on in the third and got out of the inning cleanly and also pitched a 1-2-3 fourth inning.
“Christy went 3 for 3 and played well at catcher,” Sequim coach Mike McFarlen said. “We didn’t hit. I can’t really explain it. We did score 11 [Friday vs. Olympic], but sometimes you don’t hit.”
Port Angeles 13, Sequim 2
Sequim 0 0 0 0 2 x x — 2 8 3
PA 0 9 4 0 x x x — 13 14 0
WP: Clark LP: Vig
Pitching
PA — Clark 5 IP, 2 R, 8 H, HB, 2 K.
Sequim — Vig 1.1 IP, 9 R, 7 H, 3 BB, K; Rome IP, 4 R, 7 H, K; Bates 2.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, K.
Hitting
PA — Smithson 2-4, HR, RBI; Cargo 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Brenkman 3-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI; Rudd 2-2, HR, 2 RBI; Clark 3-3, 3 RBI; Worthington 2-3, RBI; E. Halberg 1-3, RBI; Robinson 1-2, 2B.
Sequim — Grubb 3-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBIs; Lopez 2-3; Fili 1-3.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
Sequim’s Kiana Robideau attempts to bunt against the pitch from Port Angeles’ Teagan Clark while catcher Zoe Smithson waits for the delivery during the second inning on Saturday at the Dry Creek Athletic Fields. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ Emi Halberg makes it safely to second as Sequim’s Hannah Bates attempts the tag on Saturday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
