In a season filled with program-bests, all good things must come to an end.
Duke wrapped up its campaign Saturday with the conclusion of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis at the Scottrade Center. After sending five qualifiers to the tournament — a program-record — the team wrestled to a 28th-place finish with 14.0 team points.
The finish tops last season’s 29th-place finish for another new program record, and the team total stands as the most by the squad since it scored 17.0 in 2009.
Redshirt junior Conner Hartmann led the Blue Devils (11-7) with a sixth-place podium finish at 197 pounds.
For the second straight season, Hartmann received All-American honors, becoming just the second Blue Devil in program history to achieve the honor twice—heavyweight Konrad Dudziak was the other in 2009-10.
The redshirt junior went on a tear to reach the podium. Despite receiving the No. 10 seed, the 2011 South Kitsap graduate bulldozed his way through his first three opponents — including No. 7 seed Abram Ayala of Princeton and No. 2 seed Morgan McIntosh of Penn State — to reach the semifinals.
Unfortunately for the Blue Devil grappler, he dropped his next three matches to fall to sixth place. Losses to No. 3 seed Kyven Gadson of Iowa State and No. 5 seed Scott Schiller of Minnesota set Hartmann up for a rematch of the Southern Scuffle final against reigning NCAA champion and No.1 seed J’den Cox of Missouri in the consolation match for fifth place.
In an overtime thriller, Cox was able to best Hartmann for the second time this season, grabbing the 4-2 decision with a takedown as time expired. Despite the loss, Hartmann finishes his junior campaign with a 29-5 overall record and an ACC title under his belt.
— Seth Johnson, The (Duke) Chronicle
Cunningham cut by Diamondbacks
Aaron Cunningham, a 2004 South Kitsap graduate, was released Tuesday by the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to SBNation’s Chris Cotillo.
Cunningham, who turns 29 in April, spent part of last season with the Diamondbacks’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno, where he hit .255 with no home runs and 31 RBI in 92 games.
He spent parts of five seasons from 2008-12 in the major leagues, where he hit a combined .219 with seven home runs and 51 RBI in 452 at-bats for Oakland, San Diego and Cleveland.
Wolves lose season opener against Port Angeles
PORT ANGELES — Good pitching and clutch hitting carried the Roughriders to a 5-3 win against Class 4A South Kitsap.
“Nizhoni Wheeler pitched a wonderful game, striking out eight and only giving up six hits to a state-contending 4A school,” Port Angeles coach Randy Steinman said of Thursday’s game.
Natalie Steinman tripled to the right-center gap to bring home Taylar Clark and open the scoring for the Riders in the bottom of the third inning.
Steinman later scored on a Jaidyn Larson line drive up the middle. Larson was 3 for 4 on the day for Port Angeles
Sierra Robinson bunted aboard for the Riders in the bottom of the sixth. Lauren Lunt and Wheeler each followed with walks.
Kylee Reed followed with a bases-clearing double to left-center to put Port Angeles ahead for good.
— Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles 5, South Kitsap 3
South Kitsap 000 000 0 – 3 6 1
Port Angeles 002 003 x -5 11 0
South Kitsap falls at Decatur
South Kitsap heads into Class 4A Narrows League play with a losing record after Tuesday’s 6-2 loss at Decatur.
Freshman center fielder Dustin Garcia had two hits, but it was not enough for the Wolves (2-3), who were scheduled to open league play Wednesday against Gig Harbor. South also is scheduled to play the Tides at 4 p.m. today at Cheney Stadium.
At Decatur 6, South Kitsap 2
South Kitsap 100 100 0 – 2 4 1
Decatur 104 010 0 – 6 8 2
Leading hitter-Dustin Garcia (SK) 2-4 SB run.
South Kitsap water polo earns first win in program history
Emma Brown and Natalie Posadas scored goals for South Kitsap during its 25-2 loss Tuesday against Stadium.
The Wolves (1-2) earned their first win in program history March 18 with a 19-7 victory at Foss. Aubrey Lash led South with five goals.
