Yelm softball team qualifies for 4A state tournament

After missing out on the WIAA’s 3A State Championship Fastpitch Tournament last year in Lacey, the Tornados redeemed themselves in a big way by qualifying for the WIAA’s 4A State Championship Tournament in Yelm’s first year in the classification.

The Tornados entered the District 3/4 4A Softball Tournament on Friday, May 16, as an 11 seed. They faced an uphill battle to qualify for the 4A tournament in Richland.

Despite the challenging road ahead to qualify for the big dance, the Tornados took the easiest path forward to Richland by winning its first two games of the tournament against six-seeded Kentridge and three-seeded Rogers — a South Puget Sound League north division opponent.

“It was tough not making the state tournament last year. We had a good stretch last season. Making it in the 4A now is incredible. We’re so used to playing at the RAC (in Lacey). It’s 20 minutes down the road,” Yelm head coach Lindsay Walton told the Nisqually Valley News on Friday, May 16. “But now we get to travel and stay in a hotel. It’s just an experience we’ll never forget. This group of seniors, it’s something special for them. They get to extend their season one more week to the last tournament of the season, and I’m so happy for them.”

The Tornados opened up the District 3/4 4A tournament with a 4-1 victory over the Kentridge Chargers behind the stellar pitching of junior Mallory Hoke. Prior to the seventh inning and a last second comeback effort by the Chargers, Hoke had nearly pitched a complete game shutout. Despite the one run allowed in the seventh inning, the junior pitched her best outing of the season and kept the Tornados’ state tournament aspirations alive.

“Our A-game showed up today,” Walton said. “I knew a little bit about Kentridge after talking to the girls who have played with a few of the girls from Kentridge on their select teams. They told me their pitcher is good. She has speed. She throws a curveball, throws an up-ball, but she can get wild. Our game plan was to be loud and make sure we attack the strikes and that we’re on time.”

Yelm’s second and final matchup of the day was against a familiar foe — SPSL North Division opponent Rogers, who defeated Yelm 1-0 on Tuesday, April 15. Senior Austin Hitchner was on the mound for the Tornados, and like her teammate Hoke, pitched a complete game in the District 3/4 tournament.

Behind the bats of senior Aliyah Congdon-Snyder and sophomore Riley Smith, the Tornados avenged their previous loss to the Rams in a 7-2 victory.

“This feels incredible. Everyone had tears in their eyes when we won that game,” Walton said. “We practiced at Ridgeline the other day to be on dirt, since we play on turf. Our outfielders played great today. They caught so many things out there and saved some base hits.”

With the victory over Rogers, the Tornados had officially qualified for the WIAA’s 4A Softball State Tournament in Richland. Walton was proud of her team for displaying determination to win in Yelm’s back-to-back upset wins.
“Beating Rogers, knowing they’re the 1-seed in our league, it was hard to beat them this year. Few teams did, but not many. It was nice to get that win — especially when it counts. It’s pretty incredible,” Walton said. “You take the easy road. The easy road is to win two games, and that’s what we did. It was great to come here with a plan and achieve that plan.”

Walton was also quick to shout out her two starting pitchers on the day in Hoke and Hitchner. The two righties combined for 14 innings pitched and just three runs allowed.

“Our pitchers did outstanding today. Mallory (Hoke) and Austin (Hitchner) really came through for us today on the mound. Layah (Hicks) was incredible for us behind the plate, too. I couldn’t be more proud of these girls. They showed up and they were ready to play,” Walton said. “This is how we started the season. We came out hot and we were hitting the ball and had lights out pitching. When we play like that, we’re unbeatable in my opinion. You just have to ride that wave and hope it’ll continue to the end of the game.”

Yelm was set to compete again on Saturday, May 17, in the District 3/4 4A tournament semifinals against Tahoma, but the winners’ bracket of the competition was canceled due to a rainout at Kent Service Club Ballpark. All four teams in the semifinals advanced to next week’s state competition.
The Tornados will hit the road for Richland next week and will compete in the WIAA’s 4A State Softball Tournament on Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24.