TACOMA — Port Angeles’ season ended one game short of the state baseball tournament, losing to Franklin Pierce 7-5 in the District 2/3 tournament at Franklin Pierce High School on Saturday.
Playing as the visitors on its home field, Franklin Pierce came ready to play and broke out to a quick 3-0 lead after the first inning.
“They came out and their first three guys got base hits,” Roughriders coach Vic Reykdal said.
“They came out swinging and kind of jumped on us.”
After the rocky start, Port Angeles starter Travis Paynter focused and pitched four scoreless innings.
“Travis settled down and did a pretty good job,” Reykdal said.
The Riders took the lead with a four-run fourth inning.
“We were kind of sliding along and the weight came off in the fourth and we got some breaks and put something together,” Reykdal said.
“They [Franklin Pierce] made a couple of errors to get two guys on, and then we got single from Logan [Ciaciuch] to load the bases.”
Port Angeles then scored its first run on a passed ball.
“Eathen Boyer got a two-RBI single and he came around and scored on squeeze bunt from Bennie [Ben Basden].”
The Riders added to their lead in their next at-bat.
“Logan singled, stole second base, and Travis drove him in with a single,” Reykdal said.
The Cardinals tied it up with a two-run sixth inning.
“We went with Travis for one more inning, and the first two hitters started with doubles to get them within a run,” Reykdal said.
The tying then run scored on a ground ball.
Franklin Pierce scored two more in the top of the seventh.
“I have to give them credit for their hitting,” Reykdal said.
“It was the same thing, we get the leadoff guy, their No. 9 hitter, and we get to the top of the order and they go single, single then score on a wild pitch.
“We walked the next guy to get runners at first and second, and they get a two-out single to score the last run.”
Reykdal said his team had a chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the seventh.
“We had a shot in the seventh when we got the first two guys on, but we went fly ball, strikeout, fly ball to end it,” Reykdal said.
“We battled all the way. We didn’t hit the ball as sharply today.”
A few breaks went against Port Angeles.
“We had a couple of unfortunate plays,” Reykdal said.
“We got doubled up after a line drive to second to snuff out one inning. In another, we got a base hit into the gap between first and second, and it hit our base runner moving from first to second for an out.”
Reykdal said he was proud of his team for going beyond its season goals.
“We wanted to get to the playoffs and get some experience,” Reykdal said.
“We were able to compete in the first half for league title, and I think we surpassed our goals.
“We won a big game to get in the playoffs, won our first one in the playoffs and then won another to put us a game from state.
“When Franklin Pierce rushed the field, our kids saw that and I think it will pay great dividends for us going forward.”
Saturday was the final game for seniors Ciaciuch, Ricky Crawford, Connor Heilman, Micaiah Anderson and Jeremy Chase.
“We will raise our goals for next year,” Reykdal said.
“I think a league title is certainly possible, and getting that state berth.”
Franklin Pierce 7, Port Angeles 5
Franklin Pierce 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 — 7 11 3
Port Angeles 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 — 5 6 1
WP- Ricardo
Pitching Statistics
Port Angeles: Paynter 6 IP, 5R, 8H, 5 K; Pederson 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, K, BB.
Hitting Statistics
Port Angeles: Ciaciuch 2-4, 2 R; Paynter 2-4, 2B, RBI; Boyer 1-3, R, 2 RBI; Bohman 1-4, R; Basden, sac bunt, RBI.
