The La Center Wildcats baseball squad, the Prairie Falcons softball team and the Woodland Beavers softball squad were the only North Clark County high school baseball and softball teams to clinch state berths after last week’s district tournaments.
The La Center Wildcats progressed their way into the district championship match while the Falcons and Beavers softball teams made it out through the losers brackets.
La Center Wildcats
The Wildcats earned the Trico League’s No. 2 seed for the 1A District 4 tournament. The first game at Castle Rock High School was no contest as La Center dominated Rochester High School 11-0 on Monday, May 12.
The Wildcats traveled to Hoquiam to play the Evergreen Conference’s No. 1 seed at Olympic Stadium the next day. La Center once again did not give up a score in their 6-0 win over Montesano High School on Tuesday, May 13.
For a return to district champion status, the Wildcats had to face budding league rival Seton Catholic High School. With the rest of the tournament moved to Mountain View High School for turf fields, the Wildcats had the script flipped on them in an 8-0 loss to Seton Catholic on Saturday, May 17.
After the district tournament, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) state tournament brackets were made on Sunday, May 18, awarding La Center with the No. 3 seed in the 1A tournament. The Wildcats will host 14-seeded Colville High School on Saturday, May 24 at 1 p.m. at Camas High School. The winner of that game will move on for a quarterfinal matchup following the conclusion of the 1 p.m. game at Camas High School. If La Center wins its first game, they will face the winner of Lynden Christian versus Cashmere.
Prairie Falcons
The Prairie Falcons earned the No. 1 seed with their top finish in the 3A Greater St. Helens League for the 3A District 3/4 softball tournament.
In game one on Thursday, May 15, the Falcons faced off against 16-seed Federal Way High School resulting in an 18-6 win. The Falcons then squared off against White River High School later that day for a 9-1 win, clinching a state berth.
After the Falcons secured a spot in the 3A state tournament, they were back on Saturday, May 17, to play for a district championship. The Falcons fell short in a 4-1 loss to Gig Harbor High School.
The WIAA state tournament bracket awarded the Falcons the No. 9 seed. Prairie will play Garfield High School on Friday, May 23. A win moves them on to continue championship hopes while a loss would send the Falcons into the grueling losers bracket in hopes of the third/fourth place game on Saturday, May 24.
The 3A state softball tournament will be held at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey from Thursday, May 22, to Saturday, May 24.
Woodland Beavers
The Woodland Beavers began their 2A District 4 softball tournament as the 2A Greater St. Helens League’s three seed.
The Beavers suffered a 7-0 loss out of the gate to Aberdeen High School, sending Woodland to the losers bracket on Thursday, May 15.
The Beavers overcame a barn burner against Black Hills High School later on May 15 with a 15-11 win to stay alive. The Beavers clinched their state berth on Friday, May 16, with a 6-2 win over W.F. West High School.
The WIAA state tournament bracket awarded the Beavers the No. 11 seed in the 2A softball tournament held at Carlon Park in Selah from Friday, May 23, through Saturday, May 24.
The Beavers will face off against East Valley High School at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 23. A win continues their title hopes as they would face the winner of Cedarcrest versus Port Angeles, while a loss sends Woodland to the losers bracket for the third/fourth place game.
