These softball teams didn’t win league titles but could surprise in the playoffs
These teams didn’t win league titles, but we think they have a shot to make some noise in the district high school softball playoffs, which begin this week ahead of next week’s state tournaments.
Decatur (15-4 overall, 5-2 4A NPSL) — The only team in the 4A NPSL to hand Sarah Wright and the Kentwood Conquerors a loss this season? That’d be the Gators, who came away with a 3-1 extra innings win earlier this month. Sina Fuiava is a game-changer at the plate, posting a .712 batting average this spring with plenty of pop, hitting eight doubles, 12 home runs and driving in 40 runs. She can break a game open at any point and get the Gators into the state bracket.
Emerald Ridge (13-4, 13-4 4A SPSL) — Winners of seven in a row, the Jaguars have been hammering their competition lately, including a pair of impressive wins over district contender Sumner last week. Alanna Wirtala is one of the area’s top arms with 76 innings pitched, a 10-3 record, 89 strikeouts and a 2.12 earned run average. She’s also hitting .533 with 10 doubles and a home run. Taylor Orgeles and Kailey Verhoeven have both driven in 20+ runs for the Jags this spring.
Fife (14-4, 13-2 2A SPSL) – The Trojans have won 11 of their last 12 games, powered by two-way stars Mallory Geving and Madison Walls. The only two pitchers to appear for Fife this season, Walls sports the better ERA (1.93) with 111 strikeouts to 19 walks. Geving has the better record (7-1) with a 3.33 ERA and 76 strikeouts and leads Fife with 28 RBI and 25 runs. Walls paces Fife in on-base percentage (.587) and slugging (.760).
Rogers (14-5, 13-5 4A SPSL) — Rams finished the season on a four-game win streak, including a one-run win over league champion Olympia and a seven-run nonleague win over perennial 3A SSC contender Yelm. Raygun Klippert (.544 average, four doubles, five triples) and Keagan Norfleet (.510 average, six doubles, triple) lead the team in hitting again this season. Norfleet has been the workhorse on the mound, pitching 105 innings this spring with a 12-5 record, 152 strikeouts and a 2.40 earned run average. The Rams have shown the ability to win low-scoring, close games when needed.
Stadium (15-2, 9-2 3A PCL) – With eight returning starters, Stadium stormed to a 15-win season with routine blowouts at every turn. Only league-champion Bonney Lake handed Stadium a PCL loss – twice. But these Tigers can make noise. The group is batting .414 overall: sophomore catcher London Kim sports a .554 average and team-high 1.639 OPS. Cleanup hitter Hayden McCabe (.436 AVG) has four home runs. Leadoff hitter Sarah Yi owns a .547 on-base percentage with 28 runs, and senior infielder Allison Howes has a 1.335 OPS with 12 doubles.
Sumner (12-7 overall, 11-7 4A SPSL) — Momentum isn’t on Sumner’s side — the Spartans lost three of their final four games to end the regular season — but maybe the recent misfortunes will serve as motivation. When she’s on her game and locating her pitches, Riley McGee’s screwball and curveball talent can carry Sumner all the way into the state tournament.
Tahoma (21-1 overall, 12-1 4A NPSL) – There’s a freshman dual-threat making noise in Maple Valley. Tahoma right-hander Alexa Ramirez is enjoying instant NPSL success, and with an all-league lineup in tow, an always-competitive Bears program appears poised for another postseason run. Ramirez notched her 100th career strikeout against Kentlake on May 3, Tahoma’s ninth straight win, and dazzled throughout four consecutive complete games between March 26 and April 10. Now in possession of a 1.49 ERA (61 IP, 13 ER) to just 10 issued walks, Ramirez slashes .500/.608/.947, one of four Bears hitting over .500. Have you ever seen a lineup with all nine hitters over .300? Sophomore Mia Hammington sports team-highs in hits (27), batting average (.540) and on-base percentage (.662). Junior OF Taryn Jones (.531 AVG) has struck out just three times in 65 plate appearances, and sophomore catcher Kalani Higa (.532 AVG) has seven home runs with 41 RBI.
Yelm (15-3, 12-2 3A SSC) – Timberline controlled its destiny and hoisted the 3A SSC trophy – but opponents would be unwise to sell runner-up Yelm short. This Tornados squad can bludgeon its way to any win, averaging over 13 runs per game. Sophomore right-hander Mallory Hoke is Yelm’s heavily-relied-upon arm, sporting a 8-3 record and 3.66 ERA in 59 ⅓ innings, adding 44 strikeouts and 31 walks.
