4A SPSL softball tournament: Murray’s one-hitter, Walling’s HR push Rogers to league title
Recaps and results from this week’s 4A SPSL fastpitch softball tournament around the South Sound.
THURSDAY (MAY 8)
CHAMPIONSHIP
ROGERS 2, EMERALD RIDGE 1
Standout freshman Sierra Murray threw a complete-game gem, Payton Walling blasted a two-run home run, and Rogers prevailed over Emerald Ridge, 2-1, to win the 4A SPSL title on Thursday night.
Murray dominated a deep, talented Emerald Ridge lineup over seven strong, allowing a lone single and three walks with 13 strikeouts. She retired nine in a row from the second inning on and increased her SPSL-leading strikeout total to 189, good for seventh in the state, per MaxPreps.
Murray and Emerald Ridge ace Alanna Wirtala treated those at Puyallup’s Heritage Recreation Center to a pitcher’s duel in Thursday’s league championship. The Jaguars right-hander threw a six-inning complete game with 10 punchouts.
Rogers pounced for two runs in the third inning when Kelsey Vernon drew a leadoff walk and Walling lifted a two-run homer to left, carried thereafter by Murray’s sensational start.
Emerald Ridge threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out — but Abygale Redwine’s sacrifice fly to center field was all the Jaguars could muster. Rogers’ Murray struck out Wirtala with the tying run in scoring position to escape further damage.
Walling went 2-for-3 with her decisive two-run homer; Rogers 3B Madelyn Stanaway collected the Rams’ third and final hit.
Emerald Ridge’s Ava Puttler led off the second inning with a line-drive single to center field, Murray’s only hit surrendered.
Both teams are through to next week’s district tournament from May 16-17.
TUESDAY (MAY 6)
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.”
ROGERS 3, SUMNER 2
Payton Walling raced home on a walk-off wild pitch, a thrilling finish that pushed Rogers into Thursday’s 4A SPSL championship game.
Walling’s game-sealing score in Tuesday’s seventh inning lifted the Rams over Sumner, 3-2, and secured freshman pitcher Sierra Murray’s 14th win of the season.
Murray, the league’s strikeout leader (176), fanned 10 in Tuesday’s win, surrendering three hits and two earned runs. She walked seven.
Murray doubled in the fifth inning and dashed around the bases when a throwing error sailed into left field, pushing the Rogers lead to 2-0.
Sumner rallied and tied Tuesday’s semifinal at two when Riley Meyers hit an RBI double in the sixth inning and Josslyn Sorenson scored Abby Dean with an RBI single in the seventh.
Sorenson, Sumner’s starter, threw four strong innings (4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) and went 1-for-3 at the plate.
Rogers faces Emerald Ridge in Thursday’s league championship at Heritage Recreation Center in Puyallup. First pitch is TBD.
TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD
CHAMPIONSHIP
Rogers 2, Emerald Ridge 1
SEMIFINALS
Emerald Ridge 2, Graham-Kapowsin 1
Rogers 3, Sumner 2
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 was originally published May 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM.
