PORT ANGELES — It took three innings of perfect execution for the Port Angeles High School baseball team to tie the game at 4-4 heading into the final frame.
Unfortunately for the Roughriders (6-6 overall, 3-4 in league), it took only three minutes of the opposite to ensure the team’s fifth loss in its last six games — an 8-4 setback to North Kitsap.
“We need to get our confidence back at the plate more than anything,” Port Angeles head coach Bob Withrow said.
“I was happy with the way we battled back, we just had two bad innings.”
After rallying from an early 4-0 deficit, the Riders and their deceptively effective left-hander — Perry Knudsen — couldn’t catch a break or a corner.
Knudsen — who had held North Kitsap hitless for three innings by nibbling at the corners with his two-seam fastball — nearly had the leadoff batter of the seventh inning out swinging.
Yet the most inconspicuous of foul tips had been called, keeping the nine-hole hitter alive.
“Once I was on the mound for the next pitch you just have to forget about it,” Knudsen said.
As much as Knudsen tried, the 3-2 pitch was lined to left field for a base hit.