Thomas Jefferson showed its positive preparedness for the West Central District tournament by blitzing its two foes in similar five inning blowouts for the No. 4 seed out of the SPSL 4A tournament on Friday, May 14.

After losing four consecutive games to end the regular season, Jefferson needed to regroup and regain its focus.

"We had a heart to heart talk on Wednesday (before the tournament)," related Raider head coach Chad Fahnlander. "We talked about getting back to doing things the right way and about tradition and they took it to heart. We talked about being altruistic and and not selfish."

Jefferson then proceeded to win three out of four games after the Friday tournament sweep.

Although the temperature was high in dry and sunny conditions at the Kent Service Club Ballfields, it paled in the face of the heat generated by the Raiders' almost machinelike destruction of Kentwood and Kentridge.

Kentwood was the first to feel the Raider wrath on Friday following a 1-1 Jefferson day on Thursday.

Playing "small ball", after Hannah Kiyohara's lead off walk in the top of the first inning, Jefferson's Allie Crowe sacrifice bunted Kiyohara to second base. Lexi Goranson walked ahed of Christi Bruin's run-scoring line drive single off the top of the leaping third baseman's glove.

In the second inning, the Raiders scored again on Kiyohara's RBI single. Katie Jackson slammed home two additonal runs in the third inning with a single and the rout was on.

Jefferson notched two runs on two hits in the fourth inning before ringing down the curtain by scoring four runs on three hits in the sixth and holding the Chargers to complete the five inning eight-run mercy rule domination.

Katie Jackson struck out four batters in a three-hitter.

Kiyohara sparkled by batting 3-for-3 with four RBI, a double, a triple and three runs scored. Lexi Goranson hit 2-for-3

"Were finally coming together and stepping up the intensity, and that's great," said Kiyohara. "We came here to take care of business."

Jefferson again showed it meant business by chasing down the Kentridge Chargers 10-0 in the game day finale.

Knocking out 10 hits, the resurgent Raiders began with a first inning four-spot before adding a pair of runs in the second inning. One lone tally in the fourth and a trio of runs in the top of the fifth inning closed out the game scoring.

Once again, fireballing right hander Jackson tamed her opponents, allowing only five hits with four strikeouts.

Allie Crowe batted 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored while TJ teammate Hannah Kiyohara was 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored. Jackson aided her cause by hitting 1-for-2 with a double, three RBI and one run scored. Christi Bruin batted 2-for-4, adding two RBI and scoring one run.

Jefferson's first scheduled game at district is on Friday, May 21, at 10:00 a.m. on the fields at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway.