SPORTS: Wilder Baseball takes three games from tough Kitsap Baseball

PORT ANGELES — Wilder Baseball took advantage of last weekend’s sunshine to take three of four games from powerhouse Kitsap Baseball.

Wilder (10-4) lost the first game to Kitsap by giving up a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh but then won the next three games.

The two teams split the first two games Saturday at the Legion Fields in Poulsbo, Kitsap winning 3-2 and then Wilder blasting the home team 9-1 in the second.

On Sunday at Civic Field in Port Angeles, Wilder swept the doubleheader, 8-3 and 1-0 in 11 innings.

The second game was decided by a walk-off solo home run by Easton Napiontek, his first homer of the year.

“That was a good hit for Easton because he has been struggling,” Wilder coach Rob Merritt said.

Kitsap starts fast

Kitsap drew first blood, winning 3-2 with the walk-off in the bottom of the seventh.

Quilcene’s Brandon Bancroft started and went the first five innings on the mound while Hayden McCartney (0-1) threw the final two.

AJ Konopaski, who had a strong weekend at the plate and at the mound, went 2-for-4 in the first game.

Winning by 8 runs

Wilder came back with a vengeance in the second game, winning 9-1 on seven hits.

Konopaski (3-1) went the distance on the mound, striking out seven while giving up one earned, five hits and one walk.

He also helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

Cody Sullivan went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.

In Sunday’s first game, Wilder scored three runs in the third inning to go ahead 4-0 and cruised to the 8-3 victory.

Sullivan (2-0) pitched the first five innings, giving up two earned runs, four hits while striking out eight and walking one.

Justin Williams and Alex Gillis finished up on the mound, throwing one inning each.

Isaac Yamamoto hit 2-for-3 in the game with an RBI and two runs.

Konopaski remained hot at the plate, going 1-for-2 with an RBI-double. He also scored two runs.

Sullivan also continued his hot streak, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.

In the final game of the four-game series, Napiontek ended it all with his homer in the bottom of the 11th for the 1-0 victory.

Kitsap had six hits while Wilder earned seven.

Spencer Middleton pitched the first five innings, allowing no runs and four hits while fanning four and walking three.

Brian Senf (1-0) threw the final six innings, allowing no runs and only two hits while walking three and striking out one.

Sullivan went 2-for-5 in the game.

This coming weekend Wilder will host Aberdeen/Hoquiam at Civic Field at 5 p.m. in a doubleheader on Saturday and noon Sunday.

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