PORT ANGELES — Wilder Baseball, an elite Senior Babe Ruth program, opened the 2013 season 1-3 after winning the first game but dropping the next three to Pacific Tech this past weekend.
Wilder and Pac Tech — a Senior American Legion team and a member of the Lower Columbia Baseball Club of the Kelso-Longview area — played doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Civic Field.
Opens with victory
Wilder, with only three practices under its belt and new coach Chad Wagner at the helm, beat Pac Tech 6-3 in Saturday’s first game, but lost the second 3-0 to split the first doubleheader.
Pac Tech took control Sunday, beating Wilder 10-1 and 6-4.
“We have a lot to learn,” Wagner, who also is the head Port Angeles High School baseball coach, said.
“Being able to have only three practices, we will get better and our kids will start to understand the game more.
“Baseball IQ is low for some of our kids, and as talented as they may be, [and because of] the better competition we will play this summer, we need to be talented and smart in the game of baseball.”
Wilder did start the summer season on a high note, however, as it scored six runs on six hits and had just one error to Pac Tech’s three runs on three hits and five errors in Saturday’s first game.
Mike Dean threw five good innings for Wilder, giving up just three earned runs on three hits while striking out four and walking two to get the win.
Brady Konopaski earned the save by throwing two innings in relief.
Brady Konopaski was 2 for 4 with a run scored while Larsson Chapman was 1 for 3 with two RBI.
In the nightcap, though, Wilder was shut out while being held to four hits in the 3-0 loss.
Wilder had just one error again but Pac Tech recovered from its five errors in the first game to play perfect defense in the second contest, scoring three runs on four hits.
Mike Konopaski threw a great six innings.
“It is too bad we could not give him any run support,” Wagner said.
Konopaski gave up two earned runs while striking out five, allowing just three hits and walking three.
Kevin Herzog went 2 for 3 in the game for Wilder.
Pac Tech had a field day in Sunday’s first game, winning 10-1 on 15 hits while Wilder was held to four hits and the one run.
Again, Wilder had just one error while Pac Tech committed three.
Nick Johnston had a rough time on the mound in the first couple innings but then settled in.
He threw five innings, giving up six earned runs with nine hits and three walks.
“We did not play well at all in this game, and I believe it was nerves for some of the guys,” Wagner said.
Marcus Konopaski batted 2 for 3 in the game.
Wilder played much better in the nightcap, losing by just two runs, 6-4.
The North Olympic Peninsula team scored four runs on seven hits, and had two errors.
Pac Tech, meanwhile, had the six runs on five hits with one error.
Cody Russell threw 4 1/3 innings for Wilder, giving up five runs, just three of them earned, on five hits, two strikeouts and five walks.
“Cody is a talented pitcher but we have to get him settled in and throwing more strikes,” Wagner said.
“His control was the issue today, and body language effected him also.”
Kevin Herzog came in to throw the final 2 1/3 innings, giving up one unearned run.
Brady Konopaski was 2 for 4 in the game while Marcus Konopaski went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Harry Goodrich was 1 for 2 with two RBI.
Wilder next will host Aberdeen in two doubleheaders this coming Saturday and Sunday at Civic Field.
The games start at 5 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.
