2024 state softball preview

The high school state softball tournaments take place at various locations Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Class 4A tournament begins Friday at Columbia Playfields in Richland, the Class 3A tournament begins Thursday at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey, and the Class 1B tournament begins Friday at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.

Here’s a capsule look at the nine local teams that qualified for state:

Class 4A

Jackson

Record: 21-2

Seed: No. 2

First-round opponent: No. 15 Eastmont (17-7), 9 a.m. Friday

Leading players: P Yanina Sherwood, senior (0.59 ERA, 236 strikeouts, .415, nine homers, 30 RBI); IF Rachel Sysum, senior (.474, nine homers, 35 RBI); IF/OF/P Allie Thomsen, junior (.506, nine homers, 24 RBI); INF/C Hailey Pelletier, senior (.357, seven homers, 32 RBI); C/INF Leneyah Mitchell, senior (.348, 17 RBI); OF Addi Bale, senior (.365, 15 RBI).

Last year: Won state championship.

Coach Kyle Peacocke: “In terms of good teams and teams that have a chance to win it … there’s a lot. And a lot of things have to happen for us. We certainly feel good about our team and our experience. Our kids have been there before. But, we have a one-game-at-a-time mentality. That’s been our approach over the last couple years, especially in the playoffs. You can’t look ahead and look past things.”

Kamiak

Record: 18-5 overall

Seed: No. 6

First-round opponent: No. 11 Battle Ground (18-7-1), 9 a.m. Friday

Leading players: IF Scarlette Chapman, senior, (.623); P/IF Synclair sophomore (1.64 ERA, 122 strikeouts, .468); OF Ally Boulger, senior (three homers, 28 RBI); IF Aliya Boonsriprisal, senior (.487).

Last year: Went 2-2 at state, did not place.

Coach Ann Bradley: “One thing I’m excited about is we’ve been there now. So, there’s no nerves, there’s no question marks. We were all brand new to it last year, so we have the experience under their belt. … We might be seeded what we’re seeded, but on any given day anyone can win.”

Glacier Peak

Record: 15-9 overall

Seed: No. 10

First-round opponent: No. 7 Olympia (17-6), 9 a.m. Friday

Leading players: P/IF Maya Mesa, senior (2.36 ERA, 215 strikeouts, .364, four homers, 17 RBI); C Bri Titus, junior (.440, 12 homers, 34 RBI); OF Sammie Christensen, junior, (.353, seven homers, 20 RBI); OF Morgan Udy, sophomore (.372, 13 RBI); IF Lauren Hufford, junior (.395, five homers).

Last year: Placed second at state.

Coach Stefanie Celix: Could not be reached.

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Class 3A

Snohomish

Record: 18-6

Seed: No. 6

First-round opponent: No. 11 Prairie (16-9), 9 a.m. Friday

Leading players: IF Camryn Sage, senior (.425, 11 RBI); OF Avery Clark, senior (.385, four homers, 23 RBI); P/IF Abby Edwards, sophomore (2.48 ERA, 186 strikeouts, .355, 14 RBI); OF/P/IF Alex Flohr, senior (2.23 ERA, 61 strikeouts); OF/IF Hannah Siegler, junior (.355, four homers, 19 RBI).

Last year: Placed second at state.

Coach Patti Lande: “Everett went out and played a heck of a game against us (in winning the Class 3A District 1 championship game 10-0). They just came to play, and my girls haven’t taken a loss in a while. So, I’m hoping that was actually just well-timed and that’ll help us plan to be at our best with a lot of fire in our belly for the state tournament.”

Everett

Record: 17-6

Seed: No. 8

First-round opponent: No. 9 Roosevelt (17-6-1), 11 a.m. Friday

Leading players: IF Isa Davis, senior (.412, 11 homers, 24 RBI); C Maddie Pewitt, junior (.512, eight homers, 32 RBI); IF/C Haylie Oyler, freshman (.500, eight homers, 31 RBI); P/IF Anna Luscher, freshman (.532); P/IF Mia Hoekendorf, freshman (3.00 ERA, 116 strikeouts).

Last year: Did not qualify for state.

Coach Mike Millar: “This group is as cohesive of a team as we’ve had in a long time. As the season has gone along, they just kept getting better and believing in themselves. And, we went into districts thinking we had as big of a shot as anyone to win that, and we’re going to take the same approach at state.”

Stanwood

Record: 18-5

Seed: No. 10

First-round opponent: No. 7 Garfield (21-4), 9 a.m. Friday

Leading players: IF Rubi Lopez, junior (.615, 40 RBI, 34 stolen bases); C/UT Scarlett McEwen, senior (.550, 29 RBI); P/IF Eliot McDonald, senior (3.08 ERA, .493, 25 RBI); IF/OF Reagan Ryan, junior (.450, 20 RBI); P/OF Addi Anderson, freshman (0.85 ERA, 53 strikeouts); P/Ut Megan Stulc, junior (3.53 ERA).

Last year: Went 1-2 at state and did not place.

Coach Patrick Ryan: “The year was phenomenal for us. … Our girls took the challenge early in the year and they wanted to prove who they were and how hard they had practiced. They bought into the culture of the team, its team first and one pitch at a time. … They definitely pushed the envelope with how much time they spent together on the field this year.”

Monroe

Record: 16-9

Seed: No. 12

First-round opponent: No. 5 Auburn Riverside (19-5), 11 a.m. Friday

Leading players: IF/P Hadley Oylear, junior (.526, four homers, 24 RBI); C/IF Scarlett Nagy, junior (.461, seven homers, 36 RBI); IF Vivian Knuckley, sophomore (.451, nine homers, 45 RBI); P/IF Holly Pettitt, freshman (4.51 ERA, 110 strikeouts).

Last year: Did not qualify for state.

Coach Ashley Tuiasosopo: “We really just challenged the kids that if they wanted to achieve their goal that they’d have to weather storms and keep battling (at the Class 3A District 1 tournament). And, we were fortunate enough to get that game over Meadowdale and accomplish that goal of making it to state.”

Cascade

Record: 13-11

Seed: No. 17

First-round opponent: No. 16 Gig Harbor (12-9), 3 p.m. Thursday

Leading players: C/IF Jaidyn Wilson, senior (.440, 26 RBI); IF Lauryn Thompson, junior (.380, 19 RBI); P Mia Walker, freshman (5.10 ERA, 98 strikeouts); OF Cienna Cannon, freshman (20 RBI); IF Tessa Hahn, junior (.308, five homers, 18 RBI).

Last year: Went 0-2 at state and did not place.

Coach Mike Perrine: “You could’ve picked a few moments this season where we really weren’t playing to the level that I think we could have been. The way we finished and the way we played at districts was something special that I knew we were capable of doing all year.”

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Class 1B

Darrington

Record: 11-5

Seed: No. 6

First-round opponent: No. 3 Desales (20-7), noon Thursday

Last year: Went 0-2 at state and did not place.

Leading players: Not available.

Coach Sue Howard: Could not be reached.