Tualatin Softball’s youngest All-Stars advanced to the State Tournament after battling back through the loser’s bracket to win the District 4 championship on their home turf, while their older counterpart finished second in the major’s division.
The games marked a return to hosting and all-star play for Tualatin, who hosted the 7-team District 4 tournament at Tualatin High School June 26-29.
“This is the first time we have hosted all-stars and the first time competing in a very long time,” said League President Shannon Lovelace.
Losing the opener to the Southwest Portland Minor team set up a long road out of the loser’s bracket and back to the top.
They plowed through Tigard in game 2 and knocked out Southwest Portland in a game 3 rematch, before eliminating previously undefeated South Beaverton in back-to-back wins to take the title.
Charm Hermann and Clara Knappenberger led at the plate with two home runs for Herrmann and one for Knappenberger.
Winning District 4 is the first step on the road that could lead all the way to a state championship, The team heads next to Talent for the state tournament July 14-17.
The state champion will move on to the Northwest Regional to compete for a World Series berth.
“My Majors girls gave it a good run but came up short to take 2nd place in the final,” Coach Jeremy Beiberdorf said.
Tualatin fell to division champions South Beaverton 16-2 in the opening game, then turned up the heat on Southwest Portland in game two.
Mila Kopek threw seven strikeouts in the 12-1 win, pitching the full game with a single walk. Tualatin was on fire at the plate, with Alexa Evans leading with three hits, Gianna Paulson with two – an in-the-park homerun and a stand-up triple, Rubi Foss with 2, and Ella Bieberdorf with a stand-up triple.
The win set up a rematch with South Beaverton in the championship.
“Tualatin came up short but fared better this time around in our loss,” Coach Bieberdorf said. “The final score was 13-7.”
