Prep softball: Power surge sparks Tumwater past Centralia

BOX SCORE

At Tumwater HS

THUNDERBIRDS 14, TIGERS 11

Centralia202 025 0 - 11

Tumwater401 360 X - 14

CEN Pitching - Smith 4.2 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 6 BB, 1 SO; Lynch 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO; Lowe 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO. Highlights - Saucedo 2-5, 2 2B, 5 RBI; Erickson 3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R; Sprague 1-2, RBI, 3 R, 3 BB; Horst 2-5, 3 R, SB

TUM Pitching - Stevens 7 IP, 12 H, 11 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 11 SO. Highlights - Johnson 2-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, SB; Stevens 3-3, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB; Barrett 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB; Womach 1-2, HR, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB

TUMWATER - It's been a 10-day stretch where the Tumwater High School softball team's lineup has been - relatively speaking - held in check. Only twice did they push across double digit runs and in the three losses, they put up zero, two and three runs.

Were the Thunderbirds due?

"I feel like we all were," ace pitcher Sarah Stevens said. "Being back on our home field is really helpful and brings back (the feeling) that we are Tumwater softball."

Tumwater was, indeed, due.

Six home runs and going back-to-back-to-back in a critical bottom of the fifth inning allowed the Thunderbirds to end up on the right side of a 14-11 barn-burning verdict over Centralia on Wednesday afternoon.

"Every at-bat is always crucial and we do feed off each other," Stevens said. "We keep our energy high all the time."

It gives Tumwater (9-6, 6-5 EvCo) not just a winning league record to this point, but locks itself into at least the No. 3 seed for the Class 2A District 4 tournament. It could jump into the No. 2 spot, but the lone scenario is winning out plus Aberdeen losing out over the final four games.

Still, after back-to-back deep state tournament runs in Selah, it has been a more up-and-down 2026. A primary factor is the T-Birds graduated seven stout seniors and welcomed the same number of freshmen.

"We're slowly climbing the ladder," head coach Shaunie Kennedy said. "These are growing games. If you don't learn from these games and get better, why are you playing the game?"

The first meeting between the two league rivals featured a Tigers walk-off. The second matchup was a run-rule victory by Tumwater.

Wednesday's third contest was a heavy dosage of offense. Stevens and the trio of Centralia arms - McKenna Smith, Adrianne Lynch and Lydia Lowe - struggled from jump. Whether it was a missed spot or leaving pitches over the plate, both lineups capitalized.

In total, Tumwater and Centralia combined for 25 hits and 10 of them registered as extra bases. Tumwater had the advantage in two key stats; It drew eight walks to Centralia's four and struck out just three times, to their opponent's 11.

Stevens, all 178 pitches later, was able to gut out the win in the circle.

"I can't give myself all the credit, these girls are something special," she said. "I know they got my back no matter what. Mishaps happen, especially against Centralia, because we're all very competitive."

Up 8-6 entering the bottom of the fifth, two straight Thunderbird singles off Lynch prompted Tigers head coach David Orr to put Lowe into the circle. Even though Smith - their starter - is a southpaw and Lynch is a righty, Orr stated they have similar speeds to their pitches.

Lowe was brought in to bring forth a different look.

"Lydia has a little bit of off-speed and her changeup is usually money," Orr added.

Tumwater didn't flinch. Leadoff hitter Megan Barrett launched a two-run homer, then it was three straight solo shots from Chloe Johnson, Stevens and Brielle Womach that made it a 14-6 game.

In the span of 11 pitches, the T-Birds went from up marginally to up comfortably.

"We've been evaluating everybody, seeing what works the best," Kennedy said. "We've been working hard at being disciplined. They hit hard and they work hard."

"All three of them aren't that different," Stevens added. "We went up there with the same mindset."

Centralia, in the midst of a losing streak that's put its playoff chances in doubt, pieced together a five-run sixth. It loaded the bases on a walk, single and error then Antonia Saucedo cleared the bags with a double down the third base line on a full count.

Makenzie Erickson and Brooklyn Sprague notched RBI singles to make it a three-run game. The Tigers brought the go-ahead run to the plate in Ava Horst with two outs.

"Probably the best offensive performance we've had in a long time," Orr said. "Usually you put (up) 10 or 11 (runs), you feel good. I commend the girls, they could have rolled over. Our approach was to take it out of the umpire's hands, foul off until you find the pitch you want."

Kennedy went out to talk to Stevens. Tumwater's second-year coach kept it short and sweet.

"Take some deep breaths, you got this," Kennedy said. "This game made her dig deep in herself."

One pitch later, the T-Birds escaped the jam and Stevens retried the side in the seventh. Only three of the 11 runs were earned, due to their defense recording a season-high seven errors.

"It felt great," Stevens said. "You got to be precise and it wasn't my best night. Got to make it work."

The Tigers (5-10, 2-9) jumped in front 2-0 only for Tumwater to answer with a four-run bottom half. They tied the game with two more in the third. Stevens gave the T-Birds the lead for good with a leadoff, first-pitch solo homer to dead center in the bottom of the third.

Johnson deposited a fastball over the left field fence for a three-run shot in the fourth. Johnson and Stevens each drove in four runs while Barrett notched three hits and scored three times.

Tumwater will take on Aberdeen at home on Friday, closing the regular season with just one game outside of Thurston County over its final five.

"It'll be nice to have the hometown crowd in our familiar area," Kennedy said. "Focus on one game at a time, deal with the game in front of us."

Erickson, Saucedo, Smith and Horst all notched multiple hits for Centralia. Sprague drew three walks and crossed home three times. Despite its losing streak extended to eight, Orr believes Wednesday's game was the push needed to still make the district tournament.

"There is a lot of fight in these girls," Orr said. "If we continue on that path, we'll be fine."

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 11:22 AM.