LACEY – Kamiakin pitcher Lindsey Kamphuis overwhelmed foes at the Class 3A state fastpitch tournament.
After the Braves won the state championship, the Weber State-bound pitcher was the one overwhelmed.
Behind its senior ace, Kamiakin capped off an undefeated season with a 6-1 victory over Everett on Saturday afternoon at the Regional Athletic Complex.
In four games, the hard-throwing right-hander allowed two runs as the Braves from Kennewick won the program’s first fastpitch state championship.
“After four years of it, the thought of my dream is finally coming true is unbelievable,” Kamphuis said. “This is really exciting. … It’s almost overwhelming.”
Kamiakin (28-0 overall) defeated Mount Si, 4-0, Meadowdale, 11-0, and Juanita, 2-1, on its way to the title game.
Kamphuis struck out 38 in four games, including 11 in the victory over defending state champ Juanita in Saturday morning’s semifinal in a battle of future Division I pitchers – the Rebels’ Allison Rhodes is a Notre Dame signee.
Kamiakin coach Tammy Hutchison called Kamphuis “top notch.”
“She’s tough and she shows no emotion,” said Hutchison, who also guided the school’s girls basketball team to a 23-2 record this season. “It’s fun calling pitches for her. It’s like a video game; she hits her spots.”
Kamphuis limited Everett (25-2) to five hits and set the Seagulls down in order in the second, third and fifth innings.
She also helped herself at the plate with a two-RBI single as part of a five-run fifth inning as Kamiakin broke a scoreless tie.
In that inning, the Braves went nine batters to the plate, and scored all five runs with two outs.
THIRD/FOURTH PLACE
Wilson 10, Juanita 1: The Rams, champions of the 3A Narrows League and West Central District III, rallied from an opening-round loss Friday to University (5-2) and won five games in a row to earn third place.
That ties the 2005 Wilson team for the highest state placing in school fastpitch history.
In Saturday’s morning consolation games, Wilson beat Camas, 15-2, then got revenge by beating University, 8-3, outhitting the Titans, 12-9.
The Rams broke open the game with a sixth-run seventh inning, sending nine batters to the plate.
Kaysha Fox and Riley Jornlin earned back-to-back walks before Taylor Clark hit a two-run home run for the Rams.
Janessa Flynn went a combined 7-for-8 in Saturday’s games, and also picked up the win in the pitcher’s circle against the Rebels.
mwochnick@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/southsoundsports @MegWochnick
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