SEQIUM — The Sequim softball team took control of the Olympic League by clobbering Kingston 13-3 Friday night in six innings.
The news gets worse for the other title contenders: The defending state-champion Wolves have saved their best for the end of the season.
“I think we’re peaking at the right time,” Sequim coach Mike McFarlen said.
The Wolves (12-1) and Buccaneers entered the game at the top of the league, each with one loss.
After Friday’s defeat, Kingston (12-2) shares second place with fellow two-loss team Port Angeles.
Sequim broke the tie at the top behind Makayla Bentz’s pitching and an offense that found many ways to score.
Early on, Friday’s game lived up to the hype of two teams fighting for sole possession of the top spot.
Kingston scored one in the top of the first and Sequim answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning.
Pitching ruled the second inning as Kingston’s Allison Hilse and Sequim’s Makayla Bentz both retired all three batters they faced.
The Bucs took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third when Alexa Kononakis brought home Alyssa Langager.
Then the Wolves got patient, and it paid off.
Rylleigh Zbaraschuk walked, Bailey Rhodefer reached on a bunt and Demiree Briones walked, loading the bases with no outs.
All three scored after additional walks by Alexas Besand, Marylu Clift and Kinzie Winfield, giving Sequim a 4-2 lead.
Kingston replaced Hilse with Katie Lomas, who halted the threat by retiring the next two batters.
But Sequim got to Lomas in the fourth inning, this time by taking their bats off their shoulders.
Rhodefer got it started with a home run that slowly drifted until it finally cleared the right-field fence.
“That’s huge from a No. 2 hitter,” McFarlen said of Rhodefer’s display of power.
He added that home runs have been somewhat scarce this season, but recently he has seen more power from his team.
With the score 6-2 and the bases loaded again, Columbia Haupt emptied them in a manner that exemplified the Wolves’ varied offensive day.
First, Besand scored from third base after a passed ball.
Haupt brought in Hannah Grubb and Clift with a double.
Haupt then crossed home plate herself, thanks to a hit from Amber Robb, and Sequim’s lead was 10-2.
Bentz limited the Bucs to one run over the next two innings.
It was a typical performance for Bentz, who pitched all six innings and struck out six.
“She’s been solid all year,” McFarlen said. “She hasn’t lost once.”
In bottom of the sixth, Sequim once again loaded the bases.
Again, Haupt came to bat, and again the Wolves found different ways to score.
Grubb scored on a passed ball to make it 11-3.
Then Haupt brought in Clift with a sacrifice ground-out to second base.
Haupt’s productivity in the thick of the action drew praise from McFarlen.
After a Kingston error at first base, Darian Hall scored to make it 13-3, ending the game by way of the 10-run mercy rule.
McFarlen called the win “huge,” but pointed out his team closes out the regular season with three road games next week, including matchups with second-place teams Kingston on Tuesday and Port Angeles on Wednesday.
Before those games, the Wolves face fourth-place North Mason on Monday.
Despite the tough week ahead, McFarlen appreciates the spot his team has put itself in.
“It’s nice to control your own destiny,” McFarlen said.
Sequim 13, Kingston 3
Kingston 1 0 1 0 0 0 — 3 3 2
Sequim 1 0 3 6 0 3 — 13 9 0
WP- Bentz; LP- Hilse
Pitching Statistics
Kingston: Hilse 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 4 R (3 ER); Lomas 3 1/3 IP, 1 K, 8 H, 9 R.
Sequim: Bentz 6 IP, 3 H, 6 K, 3 R (2 ER).
Hitting Statistics
Kingston: Kononakis 1-1, R, RBI, 2 BB; Gowongock 1-3, 2B, R; Coleman 1-3.
Sequim: Rhodefer 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI; Haupt 1-4, 2B, R, 3 RBIs; Clift 1-3, 2 R, 2 RBIs, BB.
