National nabs high finish

By Tim Clinton

Federal Way National battled back to clinch at least a third place finish in the District 10 Minor Little League tournament for ages 8-10.

National edged Soundview by a 4-3 score Wednesday to earn the right to play Chinook in the loser's bracket final scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Federal Way National complex.

Thursday's winner will battle Bonney Lake/Sumner for the championship at 6 p.m. Friday, needing to win that game and an if-necessary 10 a.m. Saturday contest to take the title and advance to state.

National opened the tournament this past Saturday by beating Soundview, 8-2, but went up against Bonney Lake/Sumner the next day and lost, 20-3.

Federal Way came up against South Hill of Puyallup and won by a 10-0 score Monday to earn the right to play Soundview again Wednesday.

Chinook, meanwhile, opened with a narrow 6-4 victory over Auburn on Sunday before losing to Bonney Lake/Sumner in Wednesday's winner's bracket final, 24-0.

Age 11

Chinook proved to be double trouble for Federal Way National in this week's tournament for ages 9-11, which was also played at the National complex.

National dropped its opener to Chinook by an 8-5 margin Saturday, but came back to pound Soundview, 10-2, to open loser's bracket play Sunday.

Federal Way followed up with a 10-0 defeat of Kent on Monday, earning the right to play Chinook again Tuesday.

But Chinook ended National's tournament run by a 7-2 score, leaving Federal Way in fourth place.

Adrian Blue managed the Federal Way 11's.

Players for National were Ashton Blue, Kawika Chun, Dontae DeAvilla, Ethan Ellingsen, Chase Idler, Alex Ogorodnik, Jamesin Picinich, Stanley Saloy, Darian Taylor and Matthew Dela Torre.

Juniors

It was a two and out story for Federal Way National in the Juniors tournament for age 13 players.

National was blanked by Bonney Lake/Sumner, 12-0, in its opener before losing to Soundview, 10-0, Sunday to be eliminated from what was only a four team tournament.

National was managed by Jeff Noel and this year's All-Star players were Jordan Calderon, Oscar Fabela, Juan Leal, Jeremiah Lorennij, Lucas Melton, Exodus Neal, Cameron Noel, Sincere Phillips, Vincent Schliewe, Jaylen Song, Kingston Taufi and Judah Westcott.