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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4A SPSL softball tournament: Wirtala's gem leads Emerald Ridge over G-K in semis
Recaps and results from this week's 4A SPSL fastpitch softball tournament around the South Sound. SEMIFINALS EMERALD RIDGE 2, GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN 1 Alanna Wirtala threw a one-run complete game, Jayda Guadron plated both Emerald Ridge runs, and the Jaguars outlasted Graham-Kapowsin, 2-1, in Tuesday's 4A SPSL semifinals. Guadron's RBI double in the third inning and go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh were enough run support for the standout Wirtala, who allowed one run (none earned) with six strikeouts over seven strong frames. '(Alanna) was unbelievable,' Jaguars coach Adam Schakel said. 'I mean, you know the old saying, right? Big-time players step up in big-time games. This was a performance by her.' Graham-Kapowsin's Jessika Jennings matched Wirtala's complete game in a pitcher's duel, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out nine. The Eagles mustered their only run in the third inning when Izzy Vargas' RBI single scored Marley McDaniel. Emerald Ridge meets Rogers or Sumner in Thursday's 4A SPSL championship. All four semifinalists are through to the district bracket. 'The kids feel like they can win,' Schakel said. 'They're confident that whoever they play, they've got a chance to win, and they trust each other. 'If your bat's not working, then turn the page and go play defense. And that happened today.' TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD FIFTH-PLACE GAME Both to districts Puyallup 6, Yelm 3 LOSER-OUT GAMES Winners to districts South Kitsap 8, Bonney Lake 3 Olympia 14, Bethel 0 This story will be updated.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘She can do it all': Emerald Ridge's Wirtala delivers gem, game-winning double
Mark down another gem for Alanna Wirtala. Emerald Ridge's ace notched her seventh complete game of the season and delivered the game-winning, two-run single in extras — the hero twice over in a gutsy road run over Puyallup on Friday evening, 5-2. 'She's been doing that all year,' Jaguars coach Adam Schakel said. 'She can hit as good as anybody. Obviously, a very accomplished pitcher. She can do it all. 'She's right up there for Player of the Year consideration in our league, for sure.' Wirtala's already in postseason form, and it's only mid-April. The senior right-hander threw her trusted rise-ball to perfection and blew fastballs past rival Puyallup, allowing nine hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts across 119 pitches. She surrendered just two earned runs, Puyallup's lowest offensive total since March 18. And she's been in big moments like these before. The 2024 TNT All-Area selection put Emerald Ridge on her back and carried the Jaguars to last year's championship game, a 10-1 loss to Jackson High. But with a dangerous core of returning hitters — Wirtala's bat included — there's plenty of belief another deep run could be in the cards. 'I'm getting the spin on my pitches right and relying on my fielders to back me up,' Wirtala told The News Tribune. 'There were definitely some pitches (in the seventh) that could've been called a strike, but I'm glad we finally got it done in the eighth inning.' Facing a 2-1 deficit in the final frame, Puyallup was down to their final strike without a base runner until an improbable rally pushed Friday's rivalry into extras. Vikings 1B Sophia Wright lashed the first of three straight hits through the infield, capped by Kayla Ringenbach's clutch RBI double that kept the Vikings alive. 'In this league, anything can happen,' Schakel said. 'Puyallup is tough. We knew they were going to be tough. It was definitely a game where we needed to stay mentally tough. I'm proud of our girls. 'And Alanna? Just nails.' In hindsight, the miscues simply let Wirtala play the hero once more. In the eighth, Jaguars RF Ava Puttler drew an impressive, 13-pitch leadoff walk. Puyallup intentionally walked senior slugger Abygale Redwine when her count reached 3-0 and Wirtala, watching all of it unfold from the on-deck circle, wouldn't let the game slip away again. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position before Wirtala drove the eventual game-winning, two-run double to left center. Emerald Ridge's Riley Rooney added a run-scoring sacrifice bunt in the eighth, pushing Wirtala's cushion to three runs as Emerald Ridge's top arm returned to the circle and locked down the final frame in eight pitches. Wirtala noted her rise-ball as her best pitch of the day, but Schakel countered: 'I don't know what (pitch) doesn't feel good to her.' 'She can throw it all,' he continued. 'I've never seen a pitcher, boys or girls, baseball or softball, that's as accurate as her. 'Back in the day, remember (25-year MLB veteran pitcher) Jamie Moyer? Now, Alanna throws pretty hard, but spotting the ball and moving the ball around… she's an expert at that.' Following Friday's win, Wirtala is 9-2 with a 2.37 ERA with 14 walks and 91 strikeouts over 65 innings pitched. At the plate, she's slashing .500/.553/.762 with 18 RBI and 11 doubles. Scoreless in the second inning, Emerald Ridge's Jaycie Lindsay put down a textbook sacrifice bunt that scored Redwine for the game's first run. Wirtala escaped a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth, inducing a strikeout and foulout to end the threat. Puyallup's Jenny Tuivaiave tied the game at one with a two-out, RBI single in the sixth, but Emerald Ridge took the lead back in the seventh when Kenzie Stolmeier ripped an RBI double to left — all before Puyallup's resilient rally. 'We've seen (Alanna) for three years now, so I think we had a good approach,' Puyallup coach Alec Elliott said. 'We don't love the end result, but you've got to appreciate the battle. I think that'll help us come playoff time.' After rocky first and second innings, Puyallup starter Kiera Thomas settled in and retired 11 of 12 batters in the middle frames. The senior matched Wirtala's eight innings in a complete game of her own and allowed 10 hits and five earned runs with two walks and five strikeouts. She threw 126 pitches. Wirtala finished with a team-high three hits (3-for-4) and two crucial RBI in the eighth.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vote now for The News Tribune's Girls Athlete of the Week (March 17 to 22)
Vote for The News Tribune's Girls Athlete of the Week for contests played between March 17-22. Voting will remain open until noon Wednesday. The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below. Note: If you are not seeing the poll at the bottom of the story, try opening the story in a different browser, such as Chrome or Safari. Votes emailed will not be counted. Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporter Jon Manley ( or Tyler Wicke (twicke@ or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete's first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday. Ava Bautista, Olympia softball — Homered in Olympia's 9-7 win over Camas, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Willow Bonnici, Gig Harbor softball — Went 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in 16-5 win over North Thurston on Monday. Aspyn Evanson, Bonney Lake softball — Senior P/1B homered twice in a 15-4 rout of Adna on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with eight RBI, a double, and two runs. Jayda Guadron, Emerald Ridge softball — Junior catcher was a perfect 5-for-5 with two doubles and six RBI in Emerald Ridge's 35-0 rout of Curtis on Tuesday. Austin Hitchner, Yelm softball — Sophomore went 2-for-4 with four RBI and a fourth-inning triple in Yelm's 18-4 win over Olympia on Thursday. Riley Humphrey, Rogers softball — Freshman leadoff hitter went 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBI in Tuesday's 13-1 win over South Kitsap. Natalie Medalia, Silas softball — Rams junior struck out five over five solid innings (2 H, 2 ER) and hit two home runs in Thursday's 12-2 win over Capital, going 3-for-3 with three runs and five RBI. On the week, went 5-for-6 with two home runs. Ava Miranda, Peninsula softball — Senior outfielder went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in Peninsula's 19-2 win over Lincoln last Monday. Sierra Murray, Rogers softball — Freshman pitcher threw five strong frames on Tuesday, allowing two hits and one earned run with two walks and six strikeouts. At the plate, went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI in Rogers' 13-1 win over South Kitsap. Josie Pedeferri, Kentlake softball — Senior drove in four runs (2-for-4) with three runs and a double in Tuesday's 22-7 win over Mount Rainier. Hannah Potter, Auburn Riverside softball — Junior utility catcher homered in Thursday's rout of Fife, 21-7, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Alexa Ramirez, Tahoma softball — Sophomore pitcher went the distance in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Enumclaw, navigating 10 Hornets hits to allow just one run with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and RBI single. Olivianna Trinidad, River Ridge softball — Had four triples and six RBI in River Ridge's 24-8 win over Lincoln on Thursday. Tessa Trippy, Auburn Mountainview softball — Emerging freshman infielder homered twice in Wednesday's shutout of Kentwood, 13-0, finishing 2-for-4 with four RBI. Emily Villalobos, Kent-Meridian softball — Left fielder went 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI in Wednesday's 17-16 slugfest win over Clover Park.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vote now for The News Tribune's Boys Athlete of the Week (March 3 to 8)
Vote for The News Tribune's Boys Athlete of the Week for contests played between March 3-8. Voting will remain open until noon Thursday. The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below. Note: If you are not seeing the poll at the bottom of the story, try opening the story in a different browser, such as Chrome or Safari. Votes emailed will not be counted. Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporter Jon Manley ( or Tyler Wicke (twicke@ or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete's first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday. Javon Barbee, Franklin Pierce basketball — Cardinals guard had 29 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in Wednesday's 2A Round of 12 win over West Valley, then had 29 points and six rebounds in state-tournament loss to Mark Morris. Jordan Bennett, Emerald Ridge basketball — Jags guard had 19 points (5-9 3PM) with three rebounds in Wednesday's 4A Round of 12 loss to Richland at the Tacoma Dome, 63-54. J.J. Bordeaux, Bellarmine Prep basketball — Lions guard had team-high 18 points in 3A state quarterfinals loss to Mount Spokane at the Tacoma Dome. 3A all-tournament second-team selection added 14 points and three assists in win over Lincoln en route to sixth-place finish. Jeremiah Harshman, Annie Wright basketball — 1A tournament MVP guided the Gators to a state title in Yakima, dropping 20 points with nine rebounds and four assists in the championship game over Lynden Christian, 59-46. Ben Heisel, Bellarmine Prep basketball — Lions forward posted 19-point, 10-rebound double-double with five assists in state playoff win over Lincoln at the Tacoma Dome. 3A all-tournament second-team selection. Daniel Johnson, Auburn basketball — Trojans guard had 23 points and four rebounds in 4A Round of 12 win over Olympia, then dropped 26 points with eight rebounds in state quarterfinals loss to Gonzaga Prep. 4A all-tournament second-team selection. Drew Jones, Puyallup basketball — 4A state tournament MVP guided Puyallup to the championship game for the first time since 1971, averaging 27.7 points per game in the opening rounds before dropping 20 in a title-game loss to No. 1 Gonzaga Prep. Reggie Lester, Annie Wright basketball — Gators guard dropped team-high 17 points with two assists in 1A state semifinals win over Zillah en route to the first-place trophy in Yakima. Jamaize McGriff, Emerald Ridge basketball — Jaguars standout posted 17-point, 10-rebound double-double in 4A Round of 12 loss to Richland at the Tacoma Dome. McGriff was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Will Nasinec, Puyallup basketball — Vikings post and interior force powered Puyallup to the 4A championship game, including a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double in Wednesday's Round of 12 win over Davis.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Borden-Collins duo combines for 44 points in Sumner's road win at Emerald Ridge
Make no mistake: It's the Kawehi Borden and Olivia Collins Show in the Valley. There's no easy way to stop Sumner's star backcourt. Swarm one, and the other flourishes in a mismatch. Pressure both, and there's another Spartan ready to knock down a wide-open jumper. Friends and teammates since third grade, chemistry and trust are blossoming for the engines of the offense — just in time for Sumner's pursuit of a 4A state title. 'They play off of each other really well,' Sumner head coach Katie Hyppa said. 'They both play hard. They're a pleasure to coach, and in big games like this, it's nice to see them play well.' Borden (21 points) and Collins (game-high 23 points) combined for 44, and the Spartans knocked off Emerald Ridge on the road, 60-50, in the 4A SPSL's regular season finale Thursday night. A competitive battle between the league's top teams, Sumner's (17-3, 15-1) win secures the No. 1 seed and home court advantage for next week's SPSL girls basketball tournament and puts the Spartans in prime position for another deep postseason run. 'For us, (home court's) a big thing,' Hyppa said. 'If anyone's played in our gym, it's small. It's compact. We've got a great band, and there's definitely a difference for us when we're playing at home.' Borden, a sophomore guard already considered a Power-4 prospect, sank a game-high four triples and scored from all three levels. So did Collins, a fierce rebounder with 10 clutch free throws in Thursday night's second half. They're more than willing to feed the hotter hand — even when both hit a groove. 'Our trust has grown a lot,' Borden told The News Tribune. 'We all stayed very poised. There was a lot of noise, a lot of energy and adrenaline for Emerald Ridge. I'm proud of how our team stayed cool.' This rivalry with postseason seeding at stake offered playoff intensity and a healthy crowd on Emerald Ridge's Senior Night. Sumner's five-point lead in the opening minutes vanished when the Jaguars built a 12-0 run and led by as many as seven points in the first quarter, the turning point for a Spartans comeback. The Borden-Collins Show ensued in the second period, when the standout duo stuffed the stat sheet with all of Sumner's first-half field goals. The Spartans led by one at halftime in enemy territory. 'It's a game of runs,' Hyppa said. 'Being able to grind it out when you have to… we talk about that all the time. 'Rocky moments at the start, but ultimately, you've got to weather the storms.' Borden hit a pair of three-pointers in the third quarter, enough to fend off another late Emerald Ridge surge. And when Sumner pushed their fourth-quarter lead to seven points, the Jaguars resorted to intentional fouls; Collins drained them all. Jaguars point guard Semaj Williams and six-foot forward Raymiah Jackson co-led Emerald Ridge with 13 points apiece. Sophomore guard Saniya Fair tallied eight points and junior wing Naleila Cammack added seven. 'Every team brings their best effort (against us),' Borden said. 'It's nice for us to have these hard games, because we want to go far. It's nice to get these out of the way so we're used to them in March.' Collins dropped a game-high 23 points and Borden scored 21. Senior forward Parker Gould added six. 'This is just one step,' Collins said. 'We have three more to go.' BOX SCORE S: 10-16-15-19—60 ER: 17-8-14-11—50 Scoring: (S) Collins 23, Borden 21, Gould 6, Nohr 5, Hughes 3, Nadeau 2; (ER) Jackson 13, Williams 13, Fair 8, Cammack 7, So 4, Hudgins 3, Berridge 2
