PORT ANGELES — The Olympic All-Stars 14U Babe Ruth baseball team came just a step short of the regional championships.
The Port Angeles team captured second place at the state tournament, which ended Sunday at Volunteer Field in Port Angeles.
Port Angeles could still be invited to regionals, scheduled for Aug. 1-8 at The Dalles, Ore., if one of the Pacific Northwest state champions can’t make the tourney.
Richard Stone, the coach of this group of players since they were 9 years old, has taken the team to third-place finishes at state the past two years.
The team keeps getting closer to take the next step up.
“Hopefully, next year,” Stone said.
Port Angeles went 2-1 in pool play, losing only to North Kitsap, a 10-9 squeaker, Saturday during the final day of pool play.
Knowing they already had a berth in the championship bracket all wrapped up, the Olympic All-Stars gave playing time to a couple of players who normally substitute, Stone said.
Then in the loser-out semifinals early Sunday afternoon, Port Angeles spotted the undefeated Sequim All-Stars an 8-0 lead before storming back to win the game 11-9 in eight innings.
Stone said the key to that big win was the pitching of left-hander Curan Bradley, who came in from the bullpen with Port Angeles down eight runs, and gave up just one earned run the rest of the way.
“Curan Bradley closed the door on them,” he said.
Port Angeles had to bounce right back after that emotional comeback victory and play North Kitsap of Poulsbo again in the championship game.
The Olympic All-Stars ran out of gas, making uncharacteristic mistakes while losing 8-0 to claim second place.
“I was telling someone that when you’re on the field for eight hours and you’re playing for seven of those hours, that takes a lot out of you,” Stone said.
North Kitsap, meanwhile, had an easy go of it by pounding Sedro-Woolley 10-1 in the semifinals Sunday morning, and then had at least four hours to rest up for the title game.
It didn’t help that Olympic was missing three starters for the title game.
Corey Stone, the coach’s son, Tanner Gochnour and Travis Paynter all missed the championship game because of injuries.
Hitting well for Port Angeles during the tournament were Eathen Boyer, Corey Stone and Nathan Rood.
Rood, normally a substitute, saw significant playing time because of injuries to starters.
“We put Nathan in, and he battled very well,” Richard Stone said.
Overall, Stone said he was happy with the way his team played during the tournament.
“We have a great group of kids, and a great group of parents,” he said.
It also helped that the tourney was well run by Port Angeles Babe Ruth officials and the Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Department.
“This is the best run tournament on this side of the Rocky Mountains,” Stone said.
Stone coaches the Westport team during the regular said. This year Westport won the North Olympic League championship, and also went on to win the Port Angeles city tourney for its age group.
