PORT ANGELES — Packed with the potential for power throughout the lineup, Port Angeles softball is proving it can mash the ball with the best of them.
The Roughriders improved to 3-0 Tuesday with a 12-0 win over Bremerton in five innings in the Olympic League opener for each squad at Dry Creek Elementary.
The Knights were competitive, but Port Angeles’ overwhelmed Bremerton in every facet of the contest.
Zoe Smithson lashed a laser line drive RBI double and followed up with a three-run home run and Peyton Rudd was 3-for-3 with a triple and a pair of RBIs to pace Port Angeles at the plate in the shutout win.
Port Angeles pitcher Teagan Clark throws in the first inning against Bremerton on Tuesday at the Dry Creek athletic complex in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
“We definitely have some hitters which is nice to see, we have a pretty stout lineup,” Riders coach Randy Steinman said.
“There’s more to it than that, a lot more to it, but any time any one of them is up at the plate there is a chance [for extra-base hits].”
Taylor Worthington also belted a gapper to right-center field to lead off Port Angeles’ six-run third inning. She scored from second base on a Rudd single before Smithson’s three-run bomb capped the frame.
“I have confidence in all our hitters,” Smithson said.
The Riders’ defense also was top notch.
Emi Halberg opened the game with two neat grabs in center field, Worthington snared a hot shot along the third-base line and Clark nabbed a comebacker to the mound with ease in an error-free performance by Port Angeles.
“Emi made some plays to get us going in center and Taylor, she did that last weekend, too, made some nice grabs at the hot corner,” Steinman said. “Our defense was lights out.”
Teagan Clark earned the win in the circle, striking out five while allowing just a pair of walks and one hit in four innings.
“Teagan was hitting her spots well and keeping the ball down,” Smithson said.
Cheyenne Zimmer closed out the contest, striking out a pair of Bremerton batters.
“Same combination we had last year,” Steinman said. “Teagan and Cheyenne compliment each other nicely.
Freshman Heidi Leitz, a lefthander, also is in the Riders’ rotation. Leitz started at first and had an RBI single in the win Tuesday.
“She’s coming along nicely,” Steinman said.
Port Angeles 12, Bremerton 0
Brem. 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 5
PA 1 3 6 2 X — 12 11 0
WP: Clark LP: Baker
Pitching
PA — Clark 4 IP, 0 R, H, 2 BB, 5 K; Zimmer IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K
Hitting
PA — Smithson 2-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBI; Rudd 3-3, 3B, 2 RBI; L. Halberg 2-3, 2 SB, R; Leitz 1-2, RBI; Worthington 1-2, 2B, R, RBI.
Sequim 8, Bainbridge 4
SEQUIM — The Wolves opened Olympic League play by doubling up the Spartans.
“Kristy Grubb hit the ball really well and Mia Pozernick had some hits for us,” Sequim coach Mike McFarlen said.
“We didn’t play our best, but a win is a win.”
Angel Wagner earned the win in the circle for the Wolves (1-0, 4-0).
Sequim visits Bremerton today.
Port Angeles’ Lily Halberg bats in the first inning as Bremerton catcher Attianna Cabato waits for the delivery from pitcher Brooke Baker on Tuesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
