Rangers Tested by Undefeated Lower Columbia, Remain in Playoff Hunt
Ryan Hartnett (Kirkland, WA / Lake Washington HS) drives in a run with a single in game three, helping Olympic close the gap against Lower Columbia on Saturday at Lobe Field.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 8 | 9 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
Olympic College was tested over four games this week by league‑leading and undefeated Lower Columbia College, dropping all four contests but coming away with tangible positives as the Rangers remain firmly in the NWAC playoff hunt.
The series opened in Longview with Lower Columbia capitalizing on early opportunities in the opener before pulling away late for an 8–1 win. Olympic generated seven hits, including a run‑scoring single from Dominic Hecker, but struggled to string together offense against Red Devils pitching. The second game of Thursday's doubleheader proved to be the most encouraging performance of the series, as Silas Stenerson delivered a workhorse effort on the mound in a 5–0 loss. Stenerson went the distance, allowing just eight hits over eight innings while striking out four and issuing only two walks against the most productive offense in the conference. Despite taking the loss, his ability to neutralize traffic and give Olympic a complete-game effort underscored the competitiveness of the Rangers' staff.
Saturday's action shifted to Lobe Field, where Olympic stayed within striking distance in the opener before Lower Columbia edged out a 4–1 victory. Tegan Jenkins led the Rangers offensively with a three‑hit performance, while Olympic collected eight hits overall and threatened throughout the game. The finale saw the Rangers battle back after falling behind early, plating six runs on seven hits, including run‑producing hits from Dante Acacio, Ryan Hartnett, Dominic Hecker, and Yuji Imai, before Lower Columbia ultimately prevailed 13–6.
Facing a Red Devils team that entered the week unbeaten in conference play, Olympic consistently showed resilience, competitiveness on the mound, and the ability to respond offensively despite falling short in the series. With conference play tightening and several series still ahead, the Rangers remain in position to contend for a postseason spot, carrying forward lessons earned against the NWAC's top club.