Many spring sports are more like sprint sports as the busiest prep season of them all often is forced to play catch up due to wet weather.
It’s probably tempting fate to say we’ve been lucky so far with most diamond teams able to stay on track schedule-wise, although its been a tough go for girls tennis with a number of rained-out dates for Sequim especially, so far.
And with the first RPI index of the season released for team sports and North Olympic Peninsula schools on spring break this week, let’s take a look at where things stand after the first month of play.
Softball
Sequim (2-2, 6-2) and Port Angeles (3-1, 7-1) were riding high unbeaten and atop the Olympic League last week until the Wolves suffered back-to-back losses to North Kitsap and North Mason and the Riders fell at home to upstart Olympic, now the league leaders at 5-0, 7-0.
Considering how Sequim and Port Angeles have fared in dominant nonleague wins, those losses are likely examples of an improved Olympic League and a five-team race for the top spot.
The initial RPI agrees with that premise with the five Olympic League contenders in the top 20. Olympic is ranked No. 1, North Kitsap No. 6, Port Angeles No. 7, North Mason 15th and Sequim 19th.
Forks (3-3, 3-4) is breaking in new pitcher, freshman Chloe Gaydeski, but still packs a potent lineup. The Spartans sit in a tie for fourth in the Pacific League standings thus far and 27th in the 2B RPI.
Quilcene (2-1) has been hampered by wet weather and a lack of league opponents, but the Rangers sit fifth in the 1B RPI.
Baseball
Forks (4-0, 5-0) is loaded and has powered out 10 or more runs in all five games thus far this season. The Spartans claimed the Pacific League crown last spring and made a run to the district championship game, and based on early results, that trajectory is attainable for Forks once again with an even sweeter reward available this spring — a state tournament appearance.
A youthful Port Angeles squad (2-3, 4-4) entered spring break on a three-game winning streak, including a 2-1 win over powerhouse North Kitsap. Timely hitting and consistent defensive play will be important for the Riders’ district playoff hopes down the stretch.
East Jefferson (2-7) is 35th in the RPI playing in a tough Nisqually League and Quilcene (2-3) is 21st in 1B.
Boys soccer
The Olympic League isn’t receiving much love in the first 2A RPI with North Kitsap the top-rated league side at No. 10.
Sequim (4-3) checks in at No. 20 after suffering two tough losses heading into spring break. Bremerton is just behind at No. 21 and Port Angeles (3-5) is 40th out of 62 2A teams.
Olympic League-leading Bainbridge (7-0) is No. 4 in Class 3A.
Forks (5-3) has put together a four-game win streak to move back into contention in the 1A Evergreen League and debuted at No. 21 in the RPI.
Golf
There’s no RPI for golf, but Sequim has a veteran group of boys golfers, that based on initial results, should qualify as a team to compete at the state tournament in late May.
Ben Sweet and Dominic Riccobene are posting rounds that would likely put them in the mix for the individual state crown, and if Pryce Glasser and Cole Smithson play to their potential, the Wolves will be in the mix for a team title at state.
Port Angeles’ boys also are faring well under new head coach Bob Anderson with senior Edun Bailey and freshman Phoenix Flores shooting rounds under 40 thus far, a score that typically translates to state participation.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
