WILSON COUNTY, N.C. — Port Angeles started the Babe Ruth League 12U softball World Series with a bang.
North Olympic blasted nine hits to defeat the New England representative, Dover, N.H., 6-4 to open the 2009 tournament with a crucial victory Thursday evening on the East Coast.
“It was a great game for us,” Port Angeles manager Randy Steinman said moments after the game ended.
“The girls were a little nervous to start the game but once we settled down we started hitting the ball the way we normally do.”
The nerves showed in the boxscore with Port Angeles committing an uncharacteristic three errors while ace pitcher Sarah Steinman (1-0) gave up seven walks.
Sarah Steinman, though, struck out nine batters in the six-inning game while allowing just four hits.
“Take away those walks, and Sarah pitched awesome,” Randy Steinman said about his daughter.
Sarah Steinman also smacked an off-the-wall double to be named MVP of the game by tournament officials.
Dover went ahead 1-0 in the second inning but Port Angeles jumped ahead 2-1 in the top of the third.
Dover scored two of its own runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead but North Olympic tied it up with a run in the fourth.
New England scored its last run in the bottom of the fourth for its final lead, at 4-3, but then Port Angeles exploded for three runs in the fifth for a solid 6-4 advantage.
A walk and Dover’s only error of the game gave North Olympic two runners on base with one out in the top of the fifth.
A double by Lois Harding brought both runners home. Later, a sacrifice bunt by Khason Politika brought Harding home for Olympic’s final run.
Offensive stars for Port Angeles were Haley Gray, who went 3-for-4, while Ashlee Reid was 2-for-3 with a double, Harding also was 2-for-3 with a double and Holli Williams was 1-for-2 with an RBI-single.
Sarah Steinman went 1-for-3 with the off-the-wall double. The leadoff hit started the third-inning two-run rally.
Port Angeles, 12-1 in postseason action, plays its second game in pool play today at 2:30 p.m. (PDT)against Kinston/Lenoir, the North Carolina state champion.
Kinston/Lenoir had a bye on Thursday and so will come into today’s game fresh.
The North Carolina team also can use its ace pitcher against Port Angeles for the entire game.
North Olympic, meanwhile, could use Sarah Steinman for only three innings in today’s contest.
Pitchers can throw only nine innings every two games.
That may not matter for Port Angeles, though, as the North Olympic Peninsula team has another standout starting pitcher in Dusti Lucas to start today’s contest.
On Saturday, Port Angeles plays D.C. Everest, Wisc., in its third pool game at 5 p.m.
The top three pool teams in each of the two divisions advance to the double-elimination championship bracket, which starts Tuesday.
2009 Babe Ruth 12U World Series
Thursday
Game 1, Pool Play
Port Angeles (1-0) 6, Dover, N.H. (0-1) 4
Port Angeles 0 0 2 1 3 0 – 6 9 3
Dover, N.H. 0 1 2 1 0 0 — 4 4 1
WP- Sarah Steinman (1-0)
Pitching Statistics
Port Angeles: Sarah Steinman (MVP), 6 innings, 4 hits, 9 Ks, 7 BBs.
Hitting Statistics
Port Angeles: Haley Gray, 3-4; Ashlee Reid 2-3, D; Lois Harding 2-3, D; Holli Williams, 1-2, RBI-single; Sarah Steinman 1-3 D.
