PORT ANGELES — Freshmen came through big for Port Angeles as the Roughriders were able to come from behind and beat a dangerous, speedy Sequim team 4-2 to seize second place in the Olympic League 2A Division.
Freshman Ethan Flodstrom hit a towering bases-loaded double to deep center in the bottom of the sixth inning to bust open a 2-2 tie, then fellow frosh Brody Merritt struck out the final five batters to quell any comeback thoughts by the Wolves.
Port Angeles pitchers struck out a total of 14 batters and gave up just three hits to the Wolves on a blustery day that wreaked havoc with anything hit in the air. In fact neither team had a hit through four innings as both starters Dane Bradow for Port Angeles and Ian Miller for Sequim dominated. Bradow ended up with nine strikeouts, pitching out of trouble again and again, while Miller had six strikeouts.
Sequim may have only had three hits, but the Wolves’ speed caused Port Angeles headaches all game. The Wolves ended up with seven stolen bases and had baserunners in scoring position in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. However, Sequim never got the big clutch hit it needed. Seven runners stranded on base was the Wolves’ undoing.
“That team is tough. They’re as aggressive on the basepaths as they come,” said Riders coach Karl Myers. “Sequim is one of our favorite games because it’s always close.”
“It was a great game, the Port Angeles pitchers were tough,” said Wolves’ coach Dave Ditlefsen.
“We just left way too many runners stranded. And we didn’t defend the bunt very well,” Ditlefsen said.
Myers said the difference in the game was that the Riders finally started getting some leadoff hitters on, executed some near-perfect bunts and the clutch performances by Flodstrom and Merritt.
It was the second or third time all year Flodstrom had come through with a clutch double for the Riders, Myers said.
The first inning was typical of the problems the Wolves created.
James Grubb got on base after being hit by a pitch.
He promptly stole second, then as Austin Hilliard walked, he stole third. Hilliard then stole second, but the Wolves weren’t able to bring the two runners home as Bradow struck out James Thayer.
Sequim’s pressure on the basepaths resulted in a run in the third inning. Jared Thomas walked and was forced out at second on a grounder by Justin Porter. Then, Porter stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. Grubb walked and then Grubb and Porter executed a double steal for a run.
Sequim finally got its first hit in the fifth and it resulted in the Wolves’ second run. Gavin Velarde hit a double to deep center. Porter bunted Velarde over to second, then Velarde attempted a steal of home, forcing Bradow to hesitate in the middle of his windup into a balk.
With the Wolves up 2-0, the Riders finally started hitting the ball. Three perfectly executed bunts were a big part of their comeback.
Flodstrom started the comeback in the bottom of the fifth with a solid single, then the Wolves mishandled a bunt by Joel Wood. Bo Bradow laid down a gorgeous bunt, and Sequim threw the ball away, allowing Flodstrom to score from second and letting Wood get to third base. A sacrifice fly by Noah McGoff brought home Wood from third.
Sequim got runners on again in the sixth, with Jonathan Serrano on third and Miller on second. In came Merritt, who struck out Cole Williams and Jared Thomas to end the threat.
In the bottom of the sixth, Colton McGuffey led off with a double to left for the Riders. Tyrus Beckett was intentionally walked to set up a double play, then Carson Jackson laid down another perfect bunt for the Riders, beating it out for a hit.
Then Flodstrom delivered with the clutch hit Sequim could never manage. He crushed a ball 350 feet to deep center that would have been a home run anywhere else on the field. Two runners scored and that was enough for Port Angeles. In the seventh, Merritt quickly struck out the side to end the game.
Port Angeles (6-2, 8-5) is now just a game behind first-place North Kitsap. The Riders next play at North Mason at 4:15 p.m. Friday.
The loss drops Sequim (4-4, 8-5) into fourth. The Wolves played Olympic yesterday and have a game at Kingston at 4:15 p.m. Friday. Both of these games are critical for the Wolves as both Olympic and Kingston are a half-game ahead of Sequim in the Olympic League 2A standings.
Port Angeles 4, Sequim 2
Sequim 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 — 2 3 1
Port Angeles 0 0 0 0 2 2 X— 4 5 1
WP: Merritt LP: Miller
Pitching
Sequim — Miller 5 IP, 5H, 4R, 2ER, 2BB, 6K; Thayer IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K.
Port Angeles — D. Bradow 5 IP, 0H, 2R, 0ER, 4BB, 9K; Shimko 0.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K; Merritt 1.2 IP, H, 0R, 0BB, 5K.
Hitting
Sequim — Miller 1-3, Velarde 1-4, 2B, R; Grubb 0-2, 3SB, Porter 0-3, R, 2SB.
Port Angeles — Flodstrom: 2-3, 2B, R; 2RBI; McGuffey: 1-3, 2B, R; Beckett: 1-2, 2B, BB.
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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
