Courtesy article by Gerardo Bolong

SPANAWAY - Inclement weather was the winner at the Sat.-Sun. scheduled activity of the 2016 West Central District III Class 1A fast pitch softball tournament at the Sprinker Fields.

With a steady rain Sat., May 21, and more expected Sun., plus a dearth of available umpires, cancellation of seeding games and a delay of winner-to-state, loser-out match ups, "power rankings" were utilized to determine the actual seeding to state.

Seattle Christian was poised to play Bellevue Christian for the fourth time this season, but tournament officials selected the Lady Warriors as the No. 1 seed out of district into the state tournament at Richland on May 27-28 and Bellevue Christian No. 2 based on relative Nisqually League standings. Seattle Christian was the undefeated regular season Nisqually League champion while BC finished second. The Lady Warriors also defeated Bellevue Christian three times in league.

The game for the third and last seed to state between Chimacum and Klahowya was scheduled for Mon. at 1 p.m.
On Friday night, May 20, Seattle Christian rebounded from a series of non league losses to defeat No. 2 Olympic League Klahowya 10-4 in the semifinal game.

"We played very solid on defense and took advantage of some opportunities as the Eagles committed six errors," said Warrior head coach Rick Ronish. "We were able to get the ball into play and put the pressure on Klahowya. It was a really good time to play a solid game after struggling a bit the past week or so. We had contributions at the plate from every one of our girls."

Seattle Christian worked itself to a 3-1 lead before Klahowya's sophomore Amber Bumbalough hit a two-run home run to left center field in the third inning for a 3-3 deadlock.

Following a scoreless fourth inning by Klahowya, the Lady Warriors capitalized on three Eagle defensive miscues to clear away, 7-3.

Seattle Christian junior Kelli Ronish powered a bases loaded, two-run homer for an extension of the SC lead to 9-3.

As the Lady Warriors (14-4) kept the game well in hand, they added a single tally in the sixth ahead of another Bumbalough homer that created the final score of 10-4.

Ronish batted 3-4 while scoring two runs and accounting for four RBI.

Senior Lisa Kumasaka scattered seven hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks in a seven inning, route going performance to earn the Seattle Christian state clinching win for the fourth consecutive season. She also batted 3-4 with four RBI in an 11-hit SC performance.

Bumbalough led the Eagles (14-7) at bat with a double added to her homers with three RBI in her trio of at bats.

"So happy for all of the girls, but especially our five seniors (Hannah Ruffcorn, Abby Hay, Mikayla Kogle, Lisa Kumasaka and Megan Holmberg) who made the state tournament all four years. They will remember their run in high school for a long time and should be proud of this tremendous accomplishment," concluded coach Ronish.