PORT ANGELES — With their backs against the wall in a loser-out district playoff game, the Port Angeles baseball team flashed some serious leather, got some solid pitching from their staff and a clutch bases-clearing double from Ezra Townsend in a 12-3 win over Franklin Pierce at Civic Field.
Wednesday’s game was the Roughriders’ last game at Civic Field. But they aren’t done yet. With the victory, the Riders live to play another district playoff game against a familiar foe. Port Angeles will face league opponent Olympic in a loser-out/winner-to-state contest at 4 p.m. Saturday at Foss High School in Tacoma.
The Riders (14-6-1) split two games against Olympic (12-10) earlier this season, losing 6-5 and winning 3-0. Olympic upset Sammamish on Wednesday to make it to the winner-to-state game.
The Riders had a chance to qualify for the state tournament Tuesday, but lost a close game 5-3 to White River to put themselves in the consolation bracket where they had to win two straight to make state. They are now halfway there.
“I just told the kids we have another day to compete,” after the White River loss, said coach Zak Moore.
Townsend his a sharp double down the right-field line with the bases loaded to blow the game open in the fifth inning.
“We’re very confident right now. We had good energy this game,” Townsend said.
Port Angeles was forced to use four pitchers as starting ace Kole Acker pitched in a loss Tuesday. Rylen Politika, Elijah Flodstrom, Colton Romero and freshman Kody Williams, pitching in his first varsity game, combined to allow three earned runs on eight hits. They struck out five.
The quartet got some great defense behind them as Franklin Pierce actually had some opportunities for big innings, but the Port Angeles fielders just kept making plays to snuff out rallies.
The Riders got a great play from center fielder Kaleb Mullen, who fired a strike in to the infield after a medium deep fly ball to keep a runner at third from tagging up and scoring. Right fielder Tanner Jacobsen cut off a sharp base hit to keep it from turning into extra bases, also keeping a baserunner at second base from scoring.
Townsend made a spectacular stretch at first base to snag a low throw to get a baserunner out and end an inning and kept his foot on the bag on wide throw to punch out another runner. Alex Angevine threw a perfect strike from deep in his shortstop position to Townsend to end another inning. Finally, catcher Nate Basden made a tough, tumbling catch to hang on to a knuckling pop up to punch out a Cardinals hitter.
In addition to Townsend’s big blow, Flodstrom was 4-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs. Mullen was 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs. Romero walked four times and scored three runs. Jacobsen had a hit and an RBI. Port Angeles only had nine hits, but kept the bases cluttered all game with 11 walks. Angevine had a hit and scored three runs and Acker scored three runs.
Jordan Shumway also executed a perfect suicide squeeze, scoring Romero from third.
The Riders scored in every inning but the sixth.
Saturday’s game should be available for viewing on the Gamechanger app.
If the Riders win Saturday, they begin play at the state 2A tournament May 20.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles’ Colton Romero, center, reaches the plate thanks to a sacrifice bunt by teammate Jordan Shumway, right, as Franklin Pierce catcher Trey Smith looks on helplessly in the second inning of Wednesday’s playoff game at Port Angeles Civic Field.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles’ pitcher Rylan Politika throws in the first inning against Franklin Pierce on Wednesday at Port Angeles Civic Field.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles’ centerfielder Kaleb Mullen catches a fly ball in the bottom of the third inning against Franklin Pierce on Wednesday at Port Angeles Civic Field.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Angeles’ second baseman Kole Acker makes the force out on Franklin Pierce baserunner Elijah Sledge in the fourth inning on Wednesday in Port Angeles.
