Rangers Take 3 of 4 at Grays Harbor, Playoff Hopes Still Alive

The Olympic College Rangers continued their late-season surge, winning three of four games on the road against Grays Harbor College over the weekend. With the series victory, the Rangers improved their NWAC West record to 9-15 and now sit just behind Centralia, Pierce, and Clark Colleges in the standings. A crucial four-game series against Pierce looms, with Olympic needing a sweep to leapfrog into playoff position or three wins to tie Pierce for the final postseason spot.

Saturday's opener saw freshman pitcher Itsuki Fukuda dominate, tossing a complete-game, 8 strikeout, one-hit shutout in a 9-0 win. The Rangers' offense backed him with 8 hits, including a three-RBI performance from lefty sophomore Tyler Harris. Game 2 featured another strong pitching effort, this time from sophomore, Nicho Crowley, who allowed just one run and 3 hits over seven innings in a 5-1 victory. Crowley's 11 strikeouts makes it 98 on the year and adds to his 24 strikeout lead Everett's Basil Hendrix for league tops. The Rangers scored all 5 of their runs in the first highlighted by a clutch single off the bat of sophomore Mateo Castro and sacrifice flies from freshman third baseman Dominic Hecker and freshman catcher Seamus Brown.

Sunday's first game was a heartbreaker, as Olympic fell 4-3 on a late Choker home run. A pair of Rbis from sophomore David Matthew were all the Rangers could muster as they left 11 on base. The Rangers bounced back in the finale, exploding for 13 runs on 8 hits to secure a 13-3 win. Freshman third baseman Dominic Hecker went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and 2 runs scored, and Matthew continued his hot hitting adding a couple more hits, runs, and RBI. Freshman Silas Stenerson went the distance for the Rangers allowing 3 runs off of 4 hits and striking out 4.

The Rangers will conclude the regular season with a pivotal four-game series against Clark College, featuring two games there on Friday, May 9, and two at home at Legion Field on Saturday, May 10. Taking at least 3 of 4 would most likely propel Olympic into the playoffs.

Saturday, Game 1: Rangers 9, Grays Harbor 0
Offense: 9 runs [Imai (2), Elton (2)], 8 hits [Loverink, Shaffer, Harris, Matthew, Castro, Putman, Hecker, Corpuz], 2 doubles [Loverink, Harris], 8 RBI [Harris (3)], 8 walks [Matthew (2), Elton (2)].
Defense: 9 IP [Fukuda], 0 earned runs, 1 hit allowed, 8 strikeouts, 1 walk, 2 errors [Shaffer, Corpuz].

Saturday, Game 2: Rangers 5, Grays Harbor 1
Offense: 5 runs [Loverink, Shaffer, Harris, Matthew, Castro], 5 hits [Harris (2)], 4 RBI [Matthew, Castro, Hecker, Brown], 5 walks [Loverink, Shaffer, Harris, Matthew, Elton].
Defense: 7 IP [Crowley], 1 earned run, 3 hits allowed, 11 strikeouts, 3 walks, 0 errors.

Sunday, Game 3: Rangers 2, Grays Harbor 3
Offense: 2 runs [Loverink], 7 hits [Loverink (2), Shaffer (2), Harris (2)], 2 RBI [Matthew], 4 walks [Shaffer, Putman, Hecker, Batalona].
Defense: 8 IP [Spitzer (4.2), Burke (2.2), Tordiffe (0.2)], 3 earned runs [Spitzer (1), Burke (2)], 9 hits allowed [Spitzer (6), Burke (3)], 5 strikeouts [Spitzer (3), Tordiffe (2)], 0 errors.

Sunday, Game 4: Rangers 13, Grays Harbor 3
Offense: 13 runs [Harris (3)], 8 hits [Hecker (3)], 1 double [Hecker],10 RBI [Hecker (3)], 6 walks [Shaffer, Matthew, Batalona, Castro, Brown, Corpuz].
Defense: 5 IP [Stenerson], 3 earned runs, 4 hits allowed, 4 strikeouts [Stenerson], 0 errors.