PORT ANGELES — The Roughriders boys baseball team finds themselves just one win away from the state tournament after a dominating, feel-good win over #13 seed Franklin Pierce. PA defeated the Cardinals 12-3. It came a day after the Cardinals beat Sequim 12-2. The Roughriders will now play #8-seed and Olympic League rivals Olympic at Foss High School on Saturday at 4 pm. The winner advances to the state tournament.
The Roughriders patience at the plate paid off with 11 walks, 4 of those collected by 3rd baseman Colton Romero who walked 4 times and scored 4 runs. Romero continues to make tough defensive plays as well. Elijah Flodstrom had the hot bat with 4 singles, and he scored 2 runs. Short stop Alex Angevine continues to make tough plays look routine and Angevine got on base 3 times and scored 3 runs. 1st baseman Ezra Townsend had the big hit of the game with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th inning Townsend doubled a shot down the 1st base line clearing the bases for 3 RBIs.
The Roughrider game Saturday with Olympic will be broadcast on KONP with the Firehouse Grill Burgers and Fries Dugout pre-game show starting at 3:45 pm.
—
In girls fast pitch action today, the state’s #1-ranked North Kitsap Vikings (15-0) come to town to take on the 9th-ranked Roughriders (14-3). The Vikings beat the Roughriders 7-4 last week in Poulsbo. The story of that game was sophomore sensation pitcher Reese Anderson striking out 15 Roughriders. Considering the great performance by Anderson and more errors than normal by the Roughrider defense, Port Angeles was in the game all the way to the end. The Vikings in league play score 12 runs per game and give up just one. The Roughriders score 10 runs per game and give up 4.
The Roughriders will need big games from at least three of the leading sluggers. SS Natalie Robinson leads the Roughriders with a .556 batting average, 1st in hits with 30, 1st in doubles with 7 and leads in Triples with 3 and 3rd in RBIs with 18. Centerfielder Lily Halberg is hitting 482 and is 2nd in hits with 27, 1st in homeruns with 6 and 2nd in RBIs with 19. Catcher Abby Kimball is 2nd in home runs with 5 and leads the team with 24 RBIs and is hitting 468. In the 7-4 loss 3rd baseman Taylor Worthington along with 1st baseman Lexie Smith were the only 2 Roughriders who could hit Anderson. Worthington had a double and a Triple and Lexie Smith had 2 home runs. Kennedy Rognlien also had a home run but there was a very strong wind blowing toward the fence in that game. The Roughriders will also need pitchers Cheyenne Zimmer and Heidi Leitz ready to have their best games of the year.
Pitcher Cheyenne Zimmer, 2nd baseman Kennedy Rognlien, and right fielder Ava-Anne Sheahan would love to upset #1 ranked North Kitsap tonight
You can hear all the live action right here on KONP with the Firehouse Grill Burgers and Fries Dugout pre-game show starting at 4 pm with the first pitch at 4:15 pm.
The Sequim Wolves are getting a break they have the night off and will be in town tomorrow night for the Roughriders senior night, but you get the feeling there will probably be a few scouts wearing purple tonight sitting in the stands blending in with the Viking fans.