BREMERTON – Kitsap AA closed its season with two league losses, which unfortunately put them out of contention for the state legion baseball tournament.

Losses in games to Peninsula AA and Elma AA mean Kitsap will finish with a 4-6 record and in fourth place in Area 2. The top three teams advance to the playoffs.

But it was a successful summer in many ways. Kitsap was made up mostly of young players, many of whom play in successful high school programs, competing with talented upperclassmen for playing time.

“It was everything I hoped it would be,” coach Mike Zetty said after Kitsap closed its season at Knights Field against Elma. Zetty noted the team had “lost some wind from its sails” after falling to Peninsula, 16-3, the night before, which, in combination with two wins by Lower Columbia over River Ridge, eliminated the team from playoff contention. D.J. Doty picked up three of his team’s four hits and drove in a run in that game.

Kitsap had beaten Lower Columbia in a double-header just two weeks earlier, which was certainly the high point of the season. Kitsap had trailed 8-1 entering the fifth inning, but erupted for four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to steal the victory. Kitsap then held on for a 7-6 victory in game two.

If Lower Columbia had lost its final two games and Kitsap had won, Kitsap would have held the tiebreaker. But instead, Lower Columbia got hot and beat River Ridge twice to end their regular season.

Against Elma, there were a few bright spots, but the opposition ended up dominating much of the match.

Doty pitched well in the final four innings. The soon-to-be senior at Crosspoint Academy gave up three hits, three walks and three unearned runs while striking out two. He also went 1 for 2 at the plate. Nick Davis reached base in both of his plate appearances, and Jacob McKeel and Ethan Quitevis both picked up hits as well.

The third inning largely ended up being the difference. Elma opened with a walk and three straight base hits that brought in three runs. Doty came in to the game and gave up a single to plate Elma’s fourth run and then shut the door after that. But by that time the score was 8-0.

The offense’s chances were few and far between. Quitevis and Doty led off the fifth and sixth innings respectively with hits, but were never able to string together a rally against Elma’s starting pitcher, who went the distance and struck out six.

A sixth inning error opened the door for the final two runs of the game to end the contest one inning early.

“We gave a ton of kids an opportunity to play,” Zetty said. “They played well. At times they made mistakes, but that’s when you learn.”

Elma AA 11, Kitsap AA 0

EL 1 3 4 1 0 2 – 11 11 0

KT 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 4 3

LP: Davis

Pitching

Kitsap AA – Davis IP, H, R, ER, HP, 2 K; Elliott IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, BB, K; Doty 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.

Hitting

Kitsap AA — Davis 1-1, BB; Quitevis 1-2; McKeel 1-2; Doty 1-2.

D.J. Doty pitched four innings for Kitsap in the 11-0 loss to Elma. He allowed three hits, three walks and three unearned runs while striking out two. (Mark Krulish/Kitsap News Group)