The Timberline baseball team built a strong first-inning lead against Peninsula in Gig Harbor, but the Seahawks erupted on offense in the final four innings to triumph 18-7 Tuesday afternoon.
Timberline scored its first two runs without a hit in the first inning off of three hits, a hit batter and a wild pitch. Will Tennent brought another run home on an RBI single to center field, and another bases-loaded walk made it 4-0 Blazers through one.
Peninsula rolled in the second inning, leading off the frame with the first five batters reaching base. The first two runs scored on a single, and an RBI double from the ensuing batter tied the game. The Seahawks took the lead on a sacrifice fly.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, a ground ball by Reid Ovist turned into an error by Peninsula and two runs for the Blazers to regain the lead 6-5.
Peninsula responded with a seven-spot in the bottom half of the fourth and another six in the fifth, ending the game with a two-run double in the fifth.
“As the game went on, we struggled to throw strikes, which led to some tough situations defensively,” Timberline head coach Doug LaPalm said.
Tennent went 2 of 2 at the plate with an RBI, walk and run, while Blake Rickert went 2 of 3. Ryan Wolfe pitched three innings, giving up seven runs, four of which were earned, on five hits, two strikeouts and two walks.
“I thought Ryan Wolfe threw great. He commanded the zone and pitched to contact,” LaPalm said.
Timberline (2-3, 2-2 Puget Sound League) finally returns home Wednesday for a rematch with Peninsula.
