PORT ANGELES — Sequim received five innings of no-hit pitching from senior Isabelle Dennis and the Wolves broke open a scoreless game with a three-run fifth inning in a 5-1 win over Forks on Thursday.
“The game was scoreless through four innings with some great defense by both teams,” Sequim coach Tim Lusk said of the season opener for both teams played on the turf infield and grass outfield at the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s Billy Whiteshoes Memorial Park.
The Wolves pushed three runs across in the fifth inning when Christy Grubb was hit by a pitch, Jayla Julmist drew a walk and Kailyn Lopez beat out a bunt for a hit to load the bases.
A check-swing base hit by Latisha Robideau brought in Grubb and Julmist. Lopez added the third run on a passed ball.
Sequim scored two insurance runs in the seventh when Dennis tripled and scored on an error and Bobbi Sparks added the fifth run on a Spartans error.
Forks got one back in its final at-bats on an RBI single by Chloe Leverington to right field.
LeeAnn Raney pitched the final two innings for the Wolves and struck out the last batter to end the game.
Lusk said Sequim was led by Grubb and Lopez with two hits each. Dennis and Latisha Robideau also had hits for the Wolves.
Olson, Rian Peters, Julie Lausche and Leverington all singled for Forks.
Britney Dean started the game for the Spartans, striking out four in three innings pitched, allowing no runs on one walk and one hit.
Leverington picked up the loss, allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks in four innings, while striking out six.
Forks (0-1) visits Shelton on Thursday.
Sequim (1-0) visits Anacortes on Saturday.
Baseball Chimacum 8, Forks 4
CHIMACUM — The Cowboys broke open a 4-4 tie with a four-run sixth inning to push past the Spartans on Thursday and avenge an extra-innings loss to the Spartans earlier in the week.
Chimacum’s Clayton Smith pinch hit and drew a walk with one out and moved to second on an error before reaching third on a Jonah Diehl bunt single.
Issac Purser singled home Smith, Diehl scored on a wild pitch and after a Carson McConnell ground out scored Purser, Cole Dotson and Cody Clark followed with RBI singles.
Purser pitched a clean seventh inning, striking out two Spartans.
Dotson went six innings, allowing four runs (one earned), on five hits and a walk while striking out nine to earn the win.
Dalton Kilmer led Forks at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a two-run double and three RBIs.
The Spartans (1-2) host Kingston on Monday.
Chimacum (2-1) visits South Whidbey on Saturday and will host Quilcene Monday.
Chimacum 8, Forks 4
Forks 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 — 4 5 2
Chim. 0 0 3 1 0 4 X — 8 9 3
WP: Dotson LP: J. Reaume
Pitching
Forks — Ness 4IP, 5H, 4R, ER, 3BB, 3K; Reaume 2IP, 4H, 4ER, 2BB, K.
Chimacum — Dotson 6IP, 5H, 4R, ER, BB, 9K; Purser IP, 2K.
Hitting
Forks — Kilmer 2-3, 2B, 3RBI; Olson 1-3, BB, 2R. Wood 1-3, Pursley 1-3, R.
Chimacum — Purser 2-4, 2R, RBI; Diehl 2-3, 2R, RBI; Serrato 2-4, 2RBI; Dotson 1-2, 2BB, R, RBI; McConnell 1-3, BB, R, RBI; Clark 1-4, RBI.
Port Angeles 9, North Mason 4
BELFAIR — The Roughriders rolled up 12 walks and a hit batter and performed well on the mound and in the field to open Olympic League play with a win over the Bulldogs.
“This was our first league game of the year and I thought our guys did a great job of bouncing back from a tough second game last weekend,” Port Angeles coach Karl Myers said.
“Pitchers were aggressive attacking hitters today. Brody Merritt got the win on the mound going two innings and not allowing a run while striking out three.
“The three pitchers, Merritt, Seth Scofield and Andrew Pena, only allowed one walk on the day.”
Myers praised shortshop Gavin Guerrero and second baseman Milo Whitman for their efforts defensively.
“Our infield was phenomenal,” Myers said. “Gavin Guerrero and Milo Whitman made some great plays up the middle, they are playing at a very high level. Ethan Flodstrom made a couple solid defensive plays at third and Tyler Bowen really covered a lot of ground in center field. [Our] pitchers pitched with confidence knowing their defense had their backs.”
Myers said his hitters continued to show timing and discipline at the plate and had lots of balls squared up from top to bottom in the lineup.
“Lucas Jarnagin stayed hot going 2 for 3 with two RBIs,” Myers said. “He has consistently been hitting balls hard all season for us.
“Merritt helped himself out in the first inning with a two-RBI double and just missed a home run in his second at bat and Bo Bradow continues to put together quality at bats. Bradow singled and drew three walks in the contest.
“I’ve been really impressed with our two-strike approach thus far, our hitters have been battling hard in two-strike counts.” Myers said the Riders have struck out just six times in three games so far.
Port Angeles (1-0, 2-1) visits Myers’ alma mater Lake Washington Saturday to defend the “Battle for the Boat” trophy.
Port Angeles 9, North Mason 4
PA 6 0 0 1 0 2 0 — 9 5 0
NM 0 0 0 0 1 0 3— 4 7 2
WP: Merritt
Pitching
Port Angeles — Merritt 2IP, 3H, 3K; Scofield 3IP, 2H, ER; Pena 2IP, 2H, 3ER, BB.
Hitting
Port Angeles — Jarnagin 2-3, R, 2RBI; Merritt 1-2, 2B, 2RBI; Flodstrom 1-1, 2BB, HBP, 2R; Bradow 1-1, 3BB, R; Bowen 0-2, 2BB;
North Kitsap 3, Sequim 0
POULSBO — The Wolves played the Vikings tough in the Olympic League opener for each side but couldn’t get the offense untracked, managing just two singles in Thursday’s game.
Johnnie Young was the tough-luck loser for Sequim, going five innings on the mound and allowing three earned runs on six hits.
Silas Thomas pitched a clean inning in relief for the Wolves.
Sequim (0-1, 1-1) plays Aberdeen at the RAC in Lacey on Saturday and will visit Sammamish on Monday.
North Kitsap 3, Sequim 0
SEQ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 2
NK 0 0 2 0 1 0 X— 3 6 1
WP: Richardson LP: J. Young
Pitching
Sequim — J. Young 5IP, 6H, 3ER; Thomas IP.
North Kitsap — Richardson 6IP, 2H, BB, 7K; Bower IP, 2K.
Hitting
Sequim — J. Young 1-3; Barnett 1-3.
North Kitsap — Reister 2-3, 2R, RBI; Richardson 1-3, RBI; Gowin 1-3, RBI.
