TACOMA — The Wolves split their district softball contests and remain in contention for a return trip to state.
Sequim opened with an 18-0 pounding of the Evergreen Wolverines, but were blanked by Fife 8-0 in Friday’s winner-to-state district quarterfinal.
Rain forced postponement of the tournament’s consolation bracket contests, so the Wolves will need to win two loser-out games Monday to earn a state berth.
They start that task by facing Steilacoom (13-7) at 11 a.m. Monday.
Sequim failed to muster much of an offensive attack against Fife, according to coach Mike McFarlane.
“We ran into a buzzsaw,” McFarlen said of Trojans pitcher Anna Kasner, who will play for Western Washington University next season.
“We knew going in she was going to be tough.
“She mixed pitches on us, and we aren’t used to seeing that kind of talent in our league.”
He still thinks the team has a good shot to advance to state.
“I took out McKenzie [Bentz, Sequim’s starting pitcher] pretty early to save her arm,” McFarlen said.
“We get the bats going again and we’ll be fine.”
Bentz also had a short stint in the opening win against Evergreen.
She and Shelby Jones combined on a perfect game versus the Wolverines.
Bentz left the game after striking out four in two innings. Jones pitched three scoreless innings and also racked up four strikeouts.
Bentz was excited about the win after the game, but more excited she had the chance to play first base in a district game.
“My first chance to play first base, and the first time we’ve 10-runned a team at districts,” Bentz said.
The Wolves batted around two times in a 13-run second inning against Evergreen.
Sequim took advantage of eight walks and two hit batters in that inning by Wolverines starter Kiana James.
The Wolves were able to practice the squeeze bunt, as Bobbi Sparks and Bentz each came through with bunts for RBIs in the frame.
Allysen Montelius closed out the second-inning scoring for Sequim with a two-run single.
McKenzie Bentz and sister Jordan Bentz added RBI doubles in a five-run fourth inning that could have made the game even uglier.
McFarlane instructed three players to leave base before pitches, an automatic out in high school softball.
“I was glad we were able to get out of it so easily, but, yeah, it would have been good to get a tougher test considering who we play next,” McFarlane said before playing Fife.
Sequim 18, Evergreen 0, 5 innings
Sequim 0 13 0 5 0 — 18 11 0
Evergreen 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 5
WP- M. Bentz; LP- James
Pitching Statistics
Sequim: Bentz 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K; Jones 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 K.
Evergreen: James 3 IP, 18 R, 11 H, 10 BB, 2 K. Calamiong 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H.
Hitting Statistics
Sequim: Montelius 2-4, 3 RBI, 2 R; Haggerty 2-3, BB, 3 RBI, 3 R; M. Bentz 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; J. Bentz 1-3, 2 BB, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; B. Sparks 2-2, BB, 3 RBI.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
