LW softball takes fourth at district; state is next

Lake Washington softball placed fourth at the 3A SeaKing District tournament and is set for another state journey.

The Kangs (17-6 overall) qualified for the state tournament earlier last week. LW will open against Snohomish at 9 a.m. Friday at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.

LW began districts with a 20-0 win over Chief Sealth. In an 8-6 win over Ballard, Marissa Ewald had three hits — including a homer — and two RBIs, Anna Robinson had two hits and two RBIs and Tori Bivens got the victory with nine strikeouts.

In a 4-2 loss to Bainbridge in the third-/fourth-place game on May 19 at the Southwest Athletic Complex in Seattle, Emma Rosendal had two hits and scored two runs and Olivia Smallman had two hits for the Kangs. In a 2-0 loss to Holy Names Academy, Smallman had two hits for LW.

The Kangs are looking forward to hitting the diamond at state.

“We have really high standards for ourselves and for our team. We’re just all really excited and we trust each other so much,” said left fielder Lindsay Allan. “I think at this point, and at this level, you have to be all in or you can’t get to state.”

Allan said they’ve gone step by step this season, looking at each game and setting goals. They evaluated what happened during each game and kept moving forward with an eye on the postseason and ultimately state.

“We all just love the sport and I think that’s what really drives us here,” Allan said.

Catcher Abigail Mills said she enjoys being part of the hard-working Kangs’ softball family.

“It’s really fun coming out here every day, because you get to see all the people and there’s an atmosphere that everybody loves each other and gets along really well,” she said. “Everybody wants to see each other succeed, so you’re always working together.”

Jane Wilson has been sharing the pitching load with Bivens and feels she’s upped her game this season in the Kangs’ quest for state.

In the offseason, Wilson brought a new technique into her pitching arsenal by pushing her legs stronger off the mound and whipping her left pitching arm around faster.

“It’s been feeling really good and I got a great defense behind me. So whenever I get those ground balls, (we) get the outs and then move on. It’s been super awesome,” she said. “We’ve just been trying to stay super positive, and always trying to stay upbeat and cheer on our team. Always be loud in the dugout whenever we’re hitting.”

Mills feels that the Bivens-Wilson combination is a strong one and the pitchers keep her busy behind the plate. They both put different spins on the ball and throw the batters off their games, Mills said.

“It’s sort of terrifying, but also really fun because there are certain times where I don’t know where the ball is gonna be. And then it just comes at me, and I’m like, ‘Cool, I see it now! I see where it’s gonna be!’

“Every day’s a challenge, but every day’s really fun,” Mills added.