PORT ANGELES — Defending Class 1A state baseball champion Klahowya channeled a little of its 2023 magic, limiting Port Angeles to two hits in a 5-1 nonleague contest Friday afternoon at Volunteer Field.
The game also doubled as the official grand opening of Volunteer Field’s new synthetic turf infield, which will allow more contests and practices to be played on wet spring days.
Port Angeles’ Alex Angevine stole home to score the lone Roughriders run and tie the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third.
Angevine, the team’s leadoff hitter, walked to lead off the inning and stole second base after four Klahowya pickoff attempts at first base. He reached third on Colton Romero’s ground out and came home with two outs in the frame.
Klahowya opened up on reliever Kaleb Mullen in the next frame, as Mullen walked three hitters. Carson Moore cleared the bases with a two-out, three-RBI double to the left-field fence.
Port Angeles loaded the bases with two outs on three straight walks in the bottom of the sixth and had runners at first and second with one out in the final frame but couldn’t push anyone else across the plate.
The Klahowya duo of Carson Langguth, a curveball specialist, and Aidan Michael, more of a straight fastball thrower, kept the Riders’ batters off balance all day with 12 strikeouts. Romero had both of Port Angeles’ hits, one a bunt that went for single and the other a sharp hit into the outfield.
The Riders (4-1, 8-2) debuted at No. 8 in the first Class 2A RPI rankings.
“We have to start playing as a team again,” said coach Zac Moore. “I think there was a lot of outstanding noise … rankings and stuff. We need to quiet that noise.”
Port Angeles hosts a red-hot Sequim (2-4, 4-4) squad that has won three straight Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Civic Field.
Sports editor Pierre LaBossiere contributed to this story.
Klahowya 5, Port Angeles 1
Klah. 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 — 5 4 1
PA 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 — 1 2 1
WP: LP:
Pitching
Klahowya — Langguth 4 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 6 K; Michael 3 IP, H, 5 BB, 6 K.
Port Angeles — Romero 2 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, K; Mullen 1.2 IP, 3ER, 3 BB, K; Guttormsen 2.1 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 4 K; Martin IP.
Hitting
Klahowya — Moore 1-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI; Langguth 1-4, RBI; Rahl 1-2, R, RBI.
Port Angeles — Romero 2-3, BB; Angevine 2 BB, SB, R.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@ peninsuladailynews.com.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles first baseman Rylan Politika tries to catch Klahowya’s Carson Moore off the bag during Friday’s game at Volunteer Field.
