Trojans’ seasons come to tough end

KENT — A valiant effort couldn’t keep the Olympic Trojans in postseason contention.

But that’s OK, Oly baseball coach Nate Andews said.

“That’s the way it goes,” Andrews said. “We actually played our hearts out (Wednesday) night trying to get back in it.”

Heading into the 3A West Central District III Tournament as the Oly League’s No. 2 seed, the Trojans drew Mount Rainier on the road to start.

The Trojans held a 4-3 lead thanks to a great effort from senior southpaw Ronnie Purser on the hill. But Mount Rainier battled back, getting two runs to take the win in the bottom of the seventh.

That set up a loser-out game Wednesday against Auburn-Riverside in Kent.

Up 4-0, Ravens’ starter Matt Renner had a no-hitter headed into the bottom of the seventh.

But Oly rallied back, getting big RBIs from guys like Chris Lane and Chaz Peters to cut the lead to 4-3. But Renner stayed strong, out-dueling sophomore Elliot Thorsen, to win.

“The first game we were in it and had it in control,” Andrews said. “We just let it get away from us. Last night we were out of it. They had a no-hitter into the seventh. The farther a no-hitter goes, the more pressure it puts on the guys hitting. But we were hitting the ball hard, putting the ball in play. We had a lot of ground outs.

“We just took a while to get on him, get a couple breaks.”

Oly got a scare in the finale as sophomore Tyler Marshall took a line drive to the eye while playing shortstop.

Marshall was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons and underwent an MRI, but Andrews said early indications point to the injury not being serious. Andrews said he’ll take a week off from school before getting reevaluated.

“That was a pretty big scare,” he said. “That really did impact it too. I think we really needed him.”

The loss ended a “roller coaster” season for the Trojans, who finish 11-12 overall after their first trip to districts since 2003.

“It’s always bittersweet to see the end come,” Andrews said. “You want to play every game like it’s your last, but this really was the last one.”

For younger players, the postseason trip will prove invaluable, Andrews said.

“I think it’s a great experience anytime you get to the playoffs,” he said. “In that way, it’s good for the younger guys.”

And while the seniors’ careers officially ended, Andrews was in no way disappointed with how the season came to a close.

“I was happy with the way we ended,” he said. “To be in the playoffs, we were very fortunate. To go to (Mount Rainier’s) place and be ahead in the seventh inning was a nice thing. To turn it around next going in there and to come back from a no-hitter, I felt like we did finish on a good note.

“I told them to hold their heads up high cause we didn’t give up in the end.”

Softball

It was a rough week for Oly’s softball squad as well, with the Trojans stumbling against Peninsula Monday 13-3 in five innings.

The loss ends Oly’s season at 9-8 overall.

Olympic held a 2-1 lead in the game, played in Purdy, before Peninsula flashed its muscle with a 7-run second inning. Seven Trojan errors didn’t help either. Overall, the teams combined for a dozen errors in the game.

Lexi Ortega was 1-3 with a run as was Rachel Haas, who added a steal.

The Trojans will graduate several key seniors, including Sarah Varady, Carly Peterson, Vanessa Olson, Heather Kennedy and Katelyn Shaw, each of whom played key rolls in helping turn the Trojans’ program around the past two seasons.

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