PORT ANGELES — Wilder Baseball swept its weekend series against Aberdeen Longshore.
With the four wins, Wilder’s record is now 5-3.
“I was very happy with the sweep,” Wilder coach Chad Wagner said.
“We have a long way to go understanding the game, but I am very proud of my kids and the changes they made from last week to this week.”
Last weekend, Wilder lost three of four to Pacific Tech.
In the opening game, pitcher Mike Dean went seven innings, striking out 10 and allowing just one hit, to lead Wilder to a 7-1 victory.
“Mike Dean was dominating on the mound . . . once we get his compand better and fix a couple mechanical issues, this kid will be our one or two [pitcher] all summer,” Wagner said.
Dean enjoyed an outpouring of support from the Wilder bats, which pounded out 10 hits in the game.
Kevin Herzog was 4 for 4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI.
Saturday’s second game was the closest of the four, with Wilder winning 7-6, thanks to a two-run double from Marcus Konopaski in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Konopaski was 2 for 3 with three RBI and a run.
Larsson Chapman also drove in a run for Wilder.
Cody Russell started the game on the mound, and earned a no decision with eight strikeouts. He scattered four hits and gave up six runs, three unearned.
“Again, [Russell is] a kid that has a lot of potential and will really help us once he learns to trust his pitches and defense,” Wagner said.
“Although his defense did let him down in this game, as all six [of Aberdeen’s] runs were scored in the fourth inning.”
Brady Konopaski recorded the win by pitching two innings of relief.
Nick Johnston had the best pitching performance of the weekend in Sunday’s first game, which Wilder won 8-0.
Johnston tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing only one hit, one walk and striking out 11 batters.
“His control was much better, and he remained emotionless on the mound, which is something we are working on with him,” Wagner said of Johnston.
“This kid has it, it’s about getting him to believe that he can throw all three pitches over the plate anytime he wants.
“He made huge strides from last week to this week.”
Wilder had a season-high 11 hits in the game, with Brady Konopaski, Herzog and Devon Courtney all contributing two hits.
Brady Konopaski drove in three runs and scored another, and Herzog drove in a pair of runs. Courtney had an RBI, and scored a run with as stolen base.
Brady Konopaski continued his big day at the plate in the last game of the weekend, a 8-5 Wilder win, smacking three hits, driving in two and scoring a run.
He also earned the save as the last hurler in a pitcher-by-committee game that was a necessity because Michael Konopaski sustained a broken hand last week against Pacific Tech that left Wilder a pitcher short.
Herzog started, and gave up two runs (one earned) in two innings.
Ryan Mudd then went four innings, striking out five and keeping Aberdeen off the scoreboard to pick up the win.
“Ryan Mudd came in and did exactly what we needed,” Wagner said.
Brady Konopaski came in with a six-run lead and preserved the win by surviving a difficult inning in which the Wilder defense committed three errors.
Aberdeen scored three runs — all unearned — on Konopaski to cut Wilder’s lead to 8-5, and loaded the bases with one out.
“I went out to the mound with the bases loaded and told [Brady] he was going to have to take care of business himself,” Wagner said.
“He then struck out the next two batters to end the game.”
All three of the outs in the final inning were strikeouts by Brady Konopaski.
Herzog and Mudd also contributed at the plate.
Herzog had two hits and scored twice, and Mudd drove in a pair of runs to go with his two hits.
Chapman only had one hit, but he drove in three runs, scored once, and had to walks and a sacrifice fly.
Dean had a double and an RBI.
Wilder next plays next Tuesday, June 18, when it hosts Sequim U18 for a doubleheader at Civic Field.
