SEQUIM — It was the perfect storm for Sequim’s baseball team against archrival Port Angeles during a steady rain shower Wednesday in Olympic League action.
Sequim ace pitcher Karsten Wake had another outstanding game at the same time Sequim’s bats came alive in a 14-1 victory in a mercy-rule five-inning contest.
“We haven’t been hitting well of late, and we were due to break out,” Sequim coach Dave Ditlefsen said.
“This game is a good sign for our hitting.”
At the same time, Ditlefsen said he expects the Roughriders to rebound from this loss and be ready to take on the Wolves when the two teams meet for their second game in Port Angeles on Monday, April 30.
“They will bounce back,” Ditlefsen said.
The two teams were tied 1-1 at the top of the second inning but the Wolves broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the second.
Wake (2-1) did his job of making sure the Riders didn’t get back in the game as he scattered six hits, striking out four while walking just one.
“Karsten has been pitching well all year,” Ditlefsen said. “He has pitched our tough games, North Kitsap and Kingston.
“He’s putting together a strong season. He had a no decision against North Kitsap but he threw real well.”
Always in control
Wake’s strength is his control, his coach said, and his ability to throw three pitches for strikes. He doesn’t get a lot of strikeouts but he also doesn’t walk many batters.
Wake throws the fastball, curveball and changeup for strikes.
On the Port Angeles side, starting pitcher Buck Reaudeau struggled, not getting an out in the second inning while giving up the seven runs after letting in just one run in the first.
Chase Jaugula came in to get the Riders out of the second without giving up a run but he allowed three runs each in the third and fourth innings.
The two pitchers combined for 6 walks while the Port Angeles defense had two errors to add to the bad day.
The Wolves improved to 6-2 in league to stay in the running for the league championship, 7-4 overall, while the Riders fell to 4-4 in league and 5-5 overall.
Wake also led the Wolves on offense, going 3 for 3 at the plate with four RBIs, scoring two runs and hitting a sacrifice fly.
Tyler Forshaw went 3 for 4 with two doubles, three runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base while catcher Tyler Campbell was a perfect 2 for 2 with a double, two RBIs and two walks.
Jake Hudson knocked in three runs and went 2 for 3 at the plate for Sequim.
Easton Napiontek scored the Riders’ lone run while going 2 for 2 with a triple while Michael Konopaski hit him in and went 1 for 2.
The Wolves next had a makeup game with North Mason on Thursday and now will travel to 1A powerhouse Chimacum for a nonleague game today.
“They certainly have been tough on us lately,” Ditlefsen said about the annual nonleague game between the two North Olympic Peninsula teams.
It’s been a few years since the Wolves have beaten the Cowboys.
The Cowboys, who are the defending state champions, have finished in the top two the past three years, including capturing the title in 2009.
This might not be a good year for the Wolves to break in the win column against their rivals in Jefferson County.
“It is unlikely we will use any of our top pitchers against them,” Ditlefsen said. “We are focused on the league right now.”
After playing North Mason on Thursday, the Wolves will have played four games already this week.
“And we have an important league game Monday,” Ditlefsen said.
Still, expect Sequim to try to keep its hot batting streak going.
That could be difficult, of course, if the Cowboys counter with one of their two top horses — all-state pitcher Landon Cray or Quinn Eldridge, who also has been dominate on the mound.
Sequim 14, Port Angeles 1, 5 innings
Port Angeles 0 1 0 0 0 — 1 6 2
Sequim 1 7 3 3 x — 14 13 0
WP- Wake (2-1); LP- Reaudeau
Pitching Statistics
Port Angeles: Reaudeau 1 IP, 8 R, 6 H, 0 K, 4 BB; Jaugula 3 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 1 K, 2 BB.
Sequim: Wake 5 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 4 K, 1 BB.
Hitting Statistics
Port Angeles: Napiontek 2-2, 3B, R; Michael Konopaski 1-2, RBI.
Sequim: Wake 3-3, 4 RBIs, 2 R, sac fly; Forshaw 3-4, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBIs, SB; Campbell 2-2, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 BB; Hudson 2-3, 3 RBIs.