SELAH — The Port Angeles softball team is in the third-place game at state after splitting a pair of games Saturday.
the Roughriders lost 4-2 to the No. 1 team in the state, Sedro-Woolley, in the state semifinals lost in a hard-fought contest in the state semifinals. Sedro-Woolley, which is 24-1 overall, won with a three-run home run in the sixth inning.
The Riders bounced back in the consolation bracket, beating Aberdeen 6-2 behind two home runs and six RBIs from Ava-Anne Sheahan. Sheahan hit a two-run home run in the first inning and then a grand slam in the third. Heidi Leitz and Lynzee Reid gave up seven hits combined to hold the lead, though Aberdeen threatened in the seventh inning, loading the bases with only one out. Leitz threw out the runner at home on a comebacker to the pitcher and the final out was record by first baseman Lexie Smith on a line drive.
Kennedy Rognlien also hit a triple in the game and scored two runs.
Amazingly, the Riders will play North Kitsap for a fifth time in the third-place game Saturday afternoon. The Vikings and Riders have split four games to this point. They played twice in league, splitting two, then the Riders won a rubber match to determine the Olympic League No. 1 seed. North Kitsap came back and beat Port Angeles at the bidistrict tournament.
Tumwater and Sedro-Woolley are playing for the state championship.
Port Angeles (22-4) beat Shadle Park in a walkoff in the Roughriders’ state tournament opener. In the quarterfinals, they beat Lynden 4-1.
Forks at 2B
Meanwhile, Forks bounced back from a loss Friday to win a consolation game Saturday morning, 15-5 over Okanogan, with both Bailey and Keira Johnson having big games.
Bailey Johnson hit a triple and had four RBIs while scoring two runs. Keira Johnson hit two doubles, scored two runs and drove one in.
Lizzy Soto was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs and Fynlie Peters was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Kaidence Rigby hit two doubles and went 3-for-4, scoring three runs and driving one in. Brooklynn Windle and Chloe Gaydeski each had two hits and two RBIs.
Forks then lost 14-10 to Kittitas as the Spartans pounded out 13 hits but couldn’t slow down Kittitas. Rigby had another big game, going 4-for-4 with a double, Peters was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Gaydeski was 2-for-4 with a double. Forks is done with its season with a record of 17-8.
The Spartans lost a wild tournament opener 17-15 to Warden on Friday. Warden is in the state championship game against Adna.
Look to www.peninsuladailynews.com for further updates.
The Forks Spartans softball players greet teammate Keira Johnson (No. 3) as she arrives home after hitting a home run Friday against Warden at the state 2B tournament in Yakima. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)
