Baseball
The Puyallup High School baseball team captured their second state championship in the last four years as they defeated Kentlake 3-2 in the championship game. PHS scored early with two runs in the second inning when Ryan Teague started things off with a double, Carter Wallace followed with a walk, and Eric Peterson scored Teague on a single. Justin Hinkle loaded the bases, then Henry Search also singled, scoring Wallace. Kentlake responded by scoring two points in the third inning. In the fourth inning, Tallon Yerbury walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored when Hinkle scored a double. That proved to be the winning run as Michael Spellacy earned the win, pitching six innings. Noah Fenz earned the save with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to seal the championship.
In the semi-finals, Puyallup defeated Skyview 5-4 as Carter Wallace had three runs batted in (RBI’s). PHS again came out hot, scoring three in the top of the first inning. Skyview would tie the game in the fourth, and then took the lead in the fifth inning. But the Vikings responded in the top of the sixth inning when Wallace singled, scoring Gavin Grant and Zack Larson. Michael Newstrom struck out eight and went six innings for the win. Spellacy earned the save.
Some links for more information on the game:
· PHS Baseball Twitter
· News Tribune
· Seattle Times
· KING5
· KOMO
Fastpitch
The Vikings fastpitch team made an outstanding run through the postseason, winning their first three games in the state tournament to reach the championship game. PHS earned the second place trophy, losing to Woodinville 3-0. With Kennedy Robillard on the mound the Vikings held the nation's fifth-ranked team scoreless until the sixth inning when Woodinville scored three runs. In the seventh inning, Destiny Conerly made an incredible catch in center field to rob Woodinville of a home run. Robillard had eight strikeouts, including all three outs in the fifth inning.
· News Tribune
· Seattle Times
In game one of the tournament, the Viking bats were hot in a 15-5 victory over Eastmont. Sophia Bjerk had three hits and three RBI’s. Game two against Jackson was scoreless until the top of the seventh when PHS scored three runs, which sent the Vikings to the semi-finals for the third out of the last four years. In the semi-final game, the bats came alive again as PHS defeated Inglemoor 6-1. Natalie Joyner hit a double home run, and Autumn Murphy hit a solo home run.
Girls Water Polo
The water polo Team earned a sixth-place trophy at the state tournament. The tournament started with a 7-2 loss to Mercer Island. On Friday, PHS scored early to set the tone in a 13 - 4 victory over Enumclaw.
The next game was against an 11-1 loss against very tough Bellevue team. In the fifth place game, the Vikings once again faced Mercer Island, though the score was much closer as Mercer Island won 6-5.
Track and Field
Girls Track athletes won four medals at state, enough for a 13th place overall finish.
· Christal Morrison (10) was a double medalist as she placed second in the 400m (56.47) and seventh in the 200m (25.22).
· Tanya Simora (10) won her second state medal in the Javelin, placing fifth with a throw of 128-03.
· Rachel Kastama capped a stellar running career earning a sixth place medal in the 3200m (11:02.13). This makes Rachel a double medalist this year as she also placed at the State Cross Country meet in the fall.
Devin Konsmo
[email protected]