Federal Way National Little League continued its domination of District 10 all-star tournaments last week with two more championships.
National won the 11- and 12-year-old baseball title Friday, and the Junior League (14-under) also beat Kent Little League in the championship games. The Junior all-star team combined with Steel Lake Little League.
It was the first time in the history of Federal Way that National has won four District 10 titles in the same season. The league also won the 10-11 baseball and Junior softball championships earlier this summer. All four teams will play at separate Washington State Little League tournaments starting this weekend.
The title by the Little League (11-12) baseball team came in the marquee tournament of the all-star season. The tournament culminates on national television at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.
Federal Way National blew away Kent Little League in the championship game Friday at GSA Park in Auburn, 20-1, in five innings. It was the second day in a row that National took on Kent. Kent forced the second championship game by beating Federal Way Thursday, 7-5.
Federal Way beat Steel Lake in the tournament opener on June 29, downed Fife/Milton/Edgewood/Chinook in the quarterfinals June 30 and beat Auburn in the semifinals July 2 to earn the berth into the championship round against Kent.
Federal Way dominated the district tournament, outscoring its opponents 71-13 during its five games in Auburn. The team hit close to .500 and the pitchers had an earned-run average of 2.50 during the tournament.
The players include Malachi Afework, Blake Beck, Nate Clow, Tommy Davis, Gavin Knapp, Brandon Niksich, Travis Miller, Nicholas Orr, Brandham Ponce-Rodriguez, Ben Ray, Kyle Russell, Tyler Tribble, Tate Wallat and Mark Wright. The team is managed by Tom Wallat, who is assisted by Chuck Miller, Bob Beck and Mike Niksich.
Next up for Federal Way National is the Washington State Little League Tournament, which starts Saturday at Luke Jensen Park in the Vancouver area. National will take on the winner of the District 9 Tournament at 1:30 p.m. Eastlake and Mercer Island Little Leagues are playing for the championship Monday night.
The winner of state advances to the Northwest Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, Calif.
Several players from the current Federal Way team have now won the District 10 tournament three years in a row in their respective age bracket and have reached the state championship game the last two years.
The Federal Way National/Steel Lake Junior All-Star team dominated the District 10 Tournament last week at Enumclaw High School. The 14-under team beat Kent Little League in the title game Wednesday to win the district crown, 2-1.
The combined team got a huge final game from starting pitcher Justin Cater, who threw 6 2/3 innings during the victory over Kent. Cater finished with 99 pitches, seven strikeouts and allowed only one earned run, which came in the first inning. Darryl Worcester recorded the final out of the game to earn the save.
Federal Way/Steel Lake tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning when Derek Weinman scored on a hard hit ball to the right side by Chase Fazio.
The winning run came in the sixth after Patrick McFadden reached base on an error. McFadden advanced to second base on a single by Caleb Bryant, and Brandon Sanders’ single loaded the bases. Jayshayn Ware pushed the Federal Way All Stars ahead with a bases loaded walk.
The Federal Way/Steel Lake team includes Justin Cater, Caleb Bryant, Derek Weinman, Evan Baxter, Darryl Worcester, Tyler Houston, Jonathan Grimstad, Brandon Sanders, Julian Alcantara, Chase Fazio, Jayshayn Ware and Patrick McFadden. The team is coached by Bob Clinton, Nick Clinton and Fred Fazio.
Next up for the Junior League all-star team is the Washington State Tournament, which kicks off July 20 at Medical Lake High School near Spokane. Federal Way/Steel Lake will take on the winner of the District 1 tournament at 4 p.m.
• The Federal Way National Junior (14-under) softball team will open the Washington State Tournament Sunday at Valley Ridge Park in SeaTac at 10 a.m. Federal Way will play the winner of a game between District 2 and District 8, who play Saturday.
The team includes Kim Brainard, Ashley Clark, Hannah Coburn, Kayla Gaerttner, Alex Haven, Amanda Henderson, Jessie Holder, Tricia Hultman, Halli McGraw, Isabelle McLarty, Dejia Phelps, Sam Simundson, Gennie Summers and Grace Sunitsch. The team is coached by Gary Haven.
• The National 10-11 all-star baseball team will open their Washington State Tournament at 11:30 p.m. at Gig Harbor Little League’s Complex on July 20. Federal Way will take on Burlington-Edison Little League, the winners of District 11.
This year’s Federal Way team includes Cole Bakker, David Bedell, Carter Berry, Alex Bradshaw, Connor Ellingson, Abiel Gonzales, Judah Graham, Colin Heffernan, Brady Houston, Tyler Hoeft, Spencer Sugg, Adam Taylor and Zachary Yoon.
The team is coached by John Sugg, who is assisted by Steve Pearson, Bryan Bakker, Bob Beck and Harvey Markey.
