QUILCENE — Mercy came in the form of a walk-off grand slam by A.J. Prater.
Quilcene opened the high school baseball season on the North Olympic Peninsula with a 14-1 shellacking of Port Townsend in six innings.
The Rangers did most of their damage in the fifth inning of Monday’s game, plating six runs to take a 9-1 lead.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Prater homered with the bases loaded to put the mercy rule into effect.
Prater also had a single and a sacrifice fly in the game.
Ben Bruner went 3 for 4 and had three RBIs for Quilcene.
Jarod Smith had a single, a double and two RBIs, and Olin Reynolds contributed a single and a double and drove in a run.
The Rangers scored three runs in the first inning before being held scoreless until the fifth.
Port Townsend scored its only run on a walk in the top of the fifth that cut Quilcene’s lead to 3-1.
Eli Harrison started for the Rangers and held the Redhawks to one hit and no runs while striking out eight and walking two.
In relief, Andy Johnston allowed a hit, four walks and a run, and Prater struck out two.
Quilcene hosts Oakville on Thursday.
Port Townsend plays at Bremerton today.
________
Compiled using team reports.
