The Oak Harbor Babe Ruth baseball team lost its final two games in pool play at the North Washington State Tournament for 14-year-olds in Port Angeles over the weekend.
Oak Harbor fell 6-4 to Olympic Friday and then 7-2 to Ellensburg Saturday.
A late rally wasn’t enough against Olympic. Oak Harbor trailed 3-1 heading into the sixth when Olympic scored three runs to go up 6-1. Oak Harbor recovered in the bottom half of the inning to match Olympic’s three-run effort but could not complete to comeback.
After Olympic scored one in the first inning off starter Trent Benson, Oak Harbor tied it in the bottom half. Kevyn Johnson boarded on an error and was forced at second on Christian Bertram’s fielder’s choice. Bertram stole second, took third on an error and scored on Tyler Snavely’s long sacrifice fly.
The score remained 1-1 until Olympic scored single runs in the fourth and fifth.
Down 6-1 in the sixth, Johnson got Oak Harbor’s three-run inning started with a base hit. Bertram’s fielder’s choice forced out Johnson, then Robert Herring was hit by a pitch and Snavely walked to load the bases. Bertram caught Olympic of guard and stole home. Noah Zuniga then lined a single to center that got by the fielder and scored two runs.
Oak Harbor had only two other hits in the game, a double by Rankin and single by Bertram.
Coach Bill Young said Benson “kept the normally active Olympic bats in check through five innings” and Johnson and Quentin Tungate “performed well in relief.”
He said his team played well defensively, especially third baseman Zuniga and center fielder Sean Erskine.
A devastating first inning destroyed Oak Harbor in its loss to Ellensburg, a game between two 0-2 teams in pool play.
Oak Harbor’s leadoff hitter walked but was thrown out at second on a steal attempt compounded by a miscommunication. The second hitter singled and then was picked off first. A double by Snavely and a single by Tungate followed but instead of having two runs in with two on and no outs, Oak Harbor failed to score in the inning.
Things didn’t get any better in the bottom half of the first when Ellensburg scored four runs with the help of a walk, hit batter, wild pitch, balk and two passed balls.
Oak Harbor pushed across a run in the third. With one out, Bertram walked and stole second, Snavely walked and Tungate was hit by a pitch. Herring’s fielder’s choice scored the run. Zuniga walked to reload the bases, but Oak Harbor couldn’t pick up another run.
Ellensburg added a run in the fourth, then Oak Harbor scored its final run in the top of sixth. With one out, Rankin was hit by a pitch and went to second on Ryan Valencia’s sacrifice bunt. Max Van Dam walked and Benson singled, then Rankin scored on an error.
Oak Harbor finished with seven hits and eight walks, but left 12 men stranded. Rankin rapped two singles; Snavely had a double; and Bertram, Tungate, Erskine and Benson singled.
Young said he “could not be more pleased” with the improvement of his team over the course or the season, then added, “There is still much more to be worked on.”
