ABBEVILLE, La. — It might have been first-round jitters, or it could have been the 100 degree heat and 100 percent humidity.
Whatever it was, something was definitely wrong with the Port Angeles 16-and-under softball team on Saturday afternoon in the Babe Ruth World Series.
Port Angeles, the Pacific Northwest champions, committed four errors and had a couple of baserunning blunders in a 6-1 loss to the Waretown Thunder of New Jersey in the first game of pool play for both teams.
“We played very poor fundamental softball,”‘ said Port Angeles manager Warren Stevens. “I don’t want to use nerves or humidity as an excuse, but we can play a lot better than this.”
Waretown scored three runs in the first three innings. Pitcher Casey Mooney led off the game with a walk and eventually scored with the help of an error and a single by Jessica Bush.
Waretown added a run in the second inning when Port Angeles made two errors and Nicole Bush scored on a sacrifice by Dana Frack.
Waretown ripped three singles in the third to make it 3-0.
Port Angeles will take today off and plays its second pool game at 4 p.m. (PDT) Monday against Jefferson Parish East, of New Orleans.
