Fastpitch district tournament preview

The West Central District fastpitch playoff brackets for high school Class 3A and 4A teams take place the week of May 16. 4A schools begin tournament play on May 16 at Kent Service Ballfields and 3A schools start their tournament on May 15 at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.

(16) Federal Way 6-12 vs. (1) Prairie 15-3

Last Meeting: N/A

Skinny: Federal Way snuck their way into the postseason as the final seed in the tournament and are tasked with the top seeded Falcons from Prairie. Federal Way took a big step forward this season making the district tournament for the first time since 2019.

The Falcons were a first round exit in last years 3A state tournament and returned all but two players from that team.

(14) Kentlake vs. (3) Timberline

Last Meeting: N/A

Skinny: Kentlake has been on a roller coaster ride this season but found it’s way to the postseason. After winning its first our games, it went on to lose the next three. The year ended on a bit of a cold streak as they won just two of their last five games.

Timberline on the other hand is red hot. The Blazers gave won five of six and are currently riding a four game win streak including a sweep of Gig Harbor. The offense has been clicking all year as the Blazers have scored more than seven runs in seven of its last eight games.

(13) Decatur 9-8 vs. (4) Gig Harbor 16-4

Last Meeting: March 24, 2024 Decatur def. Gig Harbor 14-0

Skinny: It seems like this season the Gators have flown under the radar for much of the season. Audrey Deviney has been clicking in the circle and at the plate along with fellow senior Kahea Sharpe. The Gators have made deep runs in the district tournament before but have come up short the last three years.

Gig Harbor is no slouch of first round match-up either. The Gators have one common opponent with the Tides, the Enumclaw Hornets. Decatur went 0-2 vs the claw this past season losing 11-1 in both games. But the Tides also were on the other side of an onslaught of offense as they fell 16-3.

(11) Silas vs. (6) Auburn Mountainview

Last Meeting: Mar. 12, 2022, Auburn Mountainview def. Silas 12-1

Skinny: For the second straight season the Auburn Mountainview Lions have been given a top six seed in the district tournament. This years Lion team is set to follow up a state tournament appearance last season after winning three straight in the losers bracket.

Silas is went 1-2 last year with its one win in districts over Kentlake a season ago. The Rams have found some momentum and have won four out of their last five with their one loss coming against fifth seeded Central Kitsap.

4A

(9) Auburn Riverside vs. (8) Puyallup

Last Meeting: N/A

Skinny: Auburn Riverside seems to have found their stride offensively and, in the circle, the last two games of the season as they are shaping to look like the 3A State champs of a year ago.

The Ravens scored eight runs on Kentridge’s Jo Thompson and hit a walk-off home run to defeat cross town rivals Auburn Mountainview. Puyallup is known to cause chaos in the district tournament as they have made the state tournament as a non-top 5 seed the last two seasons.

(11) Yelm 11-10 vs. (6) Kentridge 13-5

Last Meeting: N/A

Skinny: Kentridge may have finished a game behind Auburn Riverside in the standings, but the Chargers have shown potential for the state tournament all year long. Jo Thompson has brought it in the circle and at the plate this season. If Genesis Miller and Kenzie Coble can bring it with the sticks, Kentridge could be a dangerous team.

Yelm missed out on the state tournament twice last season in the district tournament. In their first year in 4A the Tornados struggled to find consistency in the win and loss column.

Audrey Deviney gives a smile and a fist bump to Meegan Meagher on second base. Ben Ray / The Mirror

Auburn Mountainview players group up in the circle. Ben Ray / The Reporter