PORT ANGELES — Another day, another two wins for Wilder Baseball.
The elite baseball team tuned up for its own popular Firecracker Classic tournament this week by sweeping a doubleheader from a youthful Sequim U18 team at Civic Field on Sunday.
That came after sweeping the Kitsap Americans on the same field Saturday (See that story in Sunday’s editions).
Wilder beat Sequim 13-5 and 10-0 for its 11th and 12th wins in a row, to improve to 13-3 on the summer after starting out 1-3.
In the first game, Wilder scored 13 runs on 13 hits and two errors while Sequim managed five runs on eight hits but a whopping five errors.
Michael Dean earned the win as he threw five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) while striking out six and walking four.
Strong two innings
Brady Konopaski pitched the final two innings, giving up no hits or walks while striking out several batters.
“Michael Dean’s control was a bit of an issue,” Wilder coach Chad Wagner said.
“He needs to learn to challenge hitters more often, and trust his defense.
“We would like our starters to go deep into games, and in order to do that they must work ahead and stay ahead of hitters.”
Offensively, Brian DeFrang was a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and a sacrifice while Kyle Kelly, Marcus Konopaski and Brady Konopaski all went 2-for-4 each.
Brady scored two runs and had two RBI while Kelly scored a run and had a stolen base, and Marcus had an RBI and scored a run.
Swinging away
Devon Courtney also had a solid day at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base while Brett Wright was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
“We played the way we needed to but still have to get our defense going in every game,” Wagner said about the day’s opening contest.
Jordan Shepherd’s pitching was a big difference in the nightcap as he gave up just three hits in a complete-game five-inning shutout.
Wilder’s defense improved in the second game as the team scored 10 runs on nine hits and had no errors.
Sequim, meanwhile, committed three errors.
Shepherd struck out five while walking three.
“We played very well defensively, and Jordan threw the ball pretty well,” Wagner said.
“Again, we need to cut down on our walks, challenge hitters and have confidence in all of the pitches we throw.”
Kelly had the perfect offensive game as he went 3-for-3, scoring a run.
Ryan Mudd, Brady Konopaski, Courtney and Shepherd all went 1-for-2 in the second game.
Brady scored two runs and had an RBI while Mudd hit in a run and scored one run.
Courtney scored two runs and had an RBI while Shepherd had a game-high three RBI and scored one run.
Wilder took Monday off and now will start preparing for the 15th annual Dick Brown Memorial Firecracker Classic today.
The weather is expected to be sunny and warm for the four-day tournament that starts on the holiday, Thursday, and continues through Sunday at Civic Field.
There will be six teams, including Wilder, Sequim, Victoria, Washington Nationals, Kingston and Seattle Titans.
Wilder, Kingston and Victoria are in Group A while Sequim, Washington Nationals and Seattle Titans are in Group B.
The teams play a round-robin in their group and play one team from the other group in the first three days.
Wilder plays at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, taking on Victoria on the Fourth of July, Kingston on Friday and Seattle Titans on Saturday.
Sequim, meanwhile, plays Kingston at 4 p.m. Thursday, Seattle Titans at 1 p.m. Friday and Washington Nationals at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Firecracker championship is set for 4 p.m. Sunday between the top two teams in each group, while the second-place teams play at 1 p.m. on the final day and the third-place squads square off at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Wilder has been dominant in its own tournament, winning 12 of the past 14 events, winning seven consecutive titles at one point.
Wilder captured third place last year.
