STEILACOOM — The Port Angeles Roughrider baseball team picked up its seventh straight win with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Steilacoom in the district playoffs.
The win sends the Roughriders to a semifinal matchup Saturday at 10 a.m. against 14-8 Fife, who edged Orting 6-5. The winner clinches a state tournament berth and advances to the district championship at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Port Angeles jumped ahead early as Luke Flodstrom was hit by a pitch, Alex Angevine walked, and Josiah Gooding drove them both home with a shot to the left-center alley. Jordan Shumway followed with a single, but Gooding was thrown out at the plate.
The Riders loaded the bases again in the second but came up empty. In the third, Kody Williams walked and later scored, and Shumway added another single and run.
Starting pitcher Rylan Politika was solid, throwing 4 2/3 innings, allowing just four hits and two runs. Bryce DeLeon came on in relief and retired four of the five batters he faced.
Roughrider third baseman Josiah Gooding, also on the KONP Newsradio postgame show, hit a two-run double in the first inning to spark the offense.
Up 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Brayden Martin entered to close. After giving up two singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs, Martin responded under pressure—striking out two of the next three batters and forcing a groundout to seal the win.
Roughrider starting pitcher Rylan Politika spoke on the KONP Newsradio postgame show after scattering four hits and allowing two runs.
In the other semifinal, North Kitsap will face Bainbridge after edging Franklin Pierce 1-0.
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State-ranked North Kitsap overwhelmed Port Angeles 8-1. Oliver Martinez scored the Roughriders’ lone goal in the 28th minute. Port Angeles will now face Washington High School Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood.
Sequim fell to Bainbridge 12-0. The Wolves will take on Bremerton Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Fife High School.
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The Port Angeles Roughrider fastpitch team beat Kingston 10-1 clinching the Olympic League championship. Heidi Leitz pitched a complete game, striking out 15 while allowing three hits, one run, and one walk.
Leitz also went 2-for-3 at the plate. Lexie Smith went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Kennedy Rognlien hit a double and a triple, driving in two runs. Abby Kimball went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Mariah Traband added an RBI single, and Lynzee Reid went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
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Peninsula College men’s basketball has signed Port Angeles point guard Gus Hallberg. Hallberg, a two-year starter, helped lead the Roughriders to the regional Sweet 16 against Sequim. Head coach Bryce Jacobson continues to build a roster with size and speed.
Roughrider Gus Hallberg has signed to play basketball with the Peninsula College Pirates.