16-05-2025
Ticket punched: These South Sound softball teams clinched state tournament berths
Punch those tickets!
With district tournaments in full swing, these South Sound softball teams have clinched state berths in WIAA brackets from May 22-24:
District win: Enumclaw 11, Peninsula 1 (quarterfinals)
Recap: Alyssa Neal's walk-off, inside-the-park home run lifted Enumclaw over the 10-run limit in Thursday's fifth inning and pushed the Hornets back into the state bracket. Leadoff shortstop Nadia Flaherty went 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs; Neal went 3-for-5 with a home run and two doubles with five RBI. Top arm Alyssa Harris threw a pair of complete games over Heritage (15 K) and Peninsula (10 K) in Thursday's doubleheader.
Team breakdown: Make it 17 wins in a row! Enumclaw joined the 3A NPSL and made themselves at home, rolling over new rivals en route to an undefeated league title (16-0). Harris eclipsed the 200-strikeout mark in Thursday's win over Peninsula and sparkled across the regular season, posting a 9-1 record and 1.52 ERA. Junior outfielder Ava Lim leads the Hornets in batting average (.600) and on-base percentage (.658).
Quotable: 'Our home runs should be accidents,' head coach Quinn Haney said, 'because we are focusing on what the situation (needs) and hitting the ball hard on a line.'
Quality wins: Auburn Mountainview (2-0), White River (2-0), Lake Stevens, Gig Harbor
District win: Timberline 3, Auburn Mountainview 2 (quarterfinals)
Recap: With the tying run at third base (and go-ahead run at first), Nevaeh Haagen entered the circle and induced the game-winning popout for Thursday's nail-biting save. Porsha Miller's two-run double sparked Timberline's offense in the second inning and Haagen blasted a leadoff homer in the third. Blazers starter Madelyn Gilmore was sensational, allowing three hits and two runs (none earned) with three walks and 10 strikeouts across 6.2 frames.
Team breakdown: Haagen crushed softballs all spring, the 3A PSL Nisqually leader in batting average (.697), slugging percentage (1.424), home runs (10), and RBI (51). Gilmore is emerging as Timberline's dual-threat freshman with a 1.91 ERA in the circle and .316/.451/.544 slash line at the plate. Eight qualified Blazers are batting over .300.
Quality wins: Gig Harbor (2-0), Peninsula (2-0), River Ridge (1-1), Central Kitsap, Silas, Tumwater
This story will be updated as local programs secure state berths.
