BY OLY ARCHIBALD
FORKS — Coming off two hard-fought games against 10th-ranked North Kitsap, the Sequim Wolves could’ve been forgiven for a letdown against a lower-division team like 2B Forks. But that wasn’t the case. The Wolves kept their edge and powered past the gritty Spartans 15-9 in a non-league baseball clash.
On the KONP Newsradio postgame show, game MVPs Hunter Tennell and Devyn Dearinger, along with head coach Dave Ditlefsen, all emphasized that they didn’t overlook Forks. In fact, Ditlefsen gave full credit to the Spartans for their ability to hit the ball well and keep the pressure on.
Forks made things interesting, scoring three runs in the fifth inning to pull within one, 7-6. But the Wolves answered with authority in the top of the sixth, erupting for eight runs on just four hits. That big inning also included two hit batters, three walks, and an error. The Spartans refused to go quietly, plating three runs in the bottom of the seventh before Sequim finally shut the door.
Devyn Dearinger was strong on the mound, going five innings with eight strikeouts and just one walk. He also helped his own cause at the plate with three singles, a double, and three runs scored. Hunter Tennell had a big night as well, collecting three singles, a double, and a run.
Brayden White, fresh off his heroics against North Kitsap, doubled and scored twice. Bryant Laboy chipped in with a single and two runs, and DH Ethan Staples added a triple, a single, and scored twice. Center fielder Zeke Schmadeke had two hits and scored a run, while Clay Abrams and Duran Ward also got in on the action. Ward, a sophomore, continued to show promise with a single, a walk, and a run scored. Behind the plate, Lincoln Bear continued to anchor the defense, solidifying his reputation as one of the top catchers in the district.
Sequim junior pitcher Devyn Dearinger was outstanding against Forks, both on the mound and at the plate, as he discussed on the KONP Newsradio postgame show.
With the win, Sequim improved to 5-7 in league play and now sets its sights on a two-game set against Bremerton next Tuesday and Wednesday.
In girls tennis, Sequim dominated rival Port Angeles, winning six of seven matches. Tiffany Lam, Calleigh Thompson, and Amara Gonzales all cruised to straight-set wins in singles play. On the doubles side, the Roughriders’ lone win came from Cayleigh Alward and Abby Riffle, who edged out Sydney Harris and Courtney Prorok in two sets. Sequim’s teams of Sasha Yada and Peyton Smith, Kiera Morey and Abby Vrown, and Lily Sparks and Sophie Greenleaf all posted doubles victories. Both Sequim and Port Angeles are back in action today—Sequim hosts Bremerton and Port Angeles welcomes Kingston, with matches beginning at 4:00 p.m.
In fastpitch, Olympic shut out Sequim 12-0, while Port Angeles took care of North Kitsap 7-0 behind a complete-game win from Heidi Leitz. At the plate, Kennedy Rognlien led the Roughriders with a 3-for-4 performance that included a home run and three RBIs. Lynzee Reid added a 2-for-4 outing with a double and an RBI, and Ava Anne Sheahan chipped in with an RBI double of her own.
And finally, on the college front, Peninsula College has added a new weapon to its women’s basketball roster. The Pirates signed 5’10” shooting guard Kimberlee Brown out of Orem, Utah. A standout at 4A Mountain View High School, Brown earned All-State Honorable Mention honors and helped lead her team to a 15-8 season. She averaged 14 points and 4 rebounds per game, shooting an efficient 43% from the field, 36% from beyond the arc, and 71% from the free throw line.
Five-foot-ten shooting guard Kimberlee Brown from Orem, Utah, a 4A All-State scoring standout, is now officially a Peninsula Pirate.