SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS: Quilcene Rangers qualify for state tournament

QUILCENE — It’s been six years, but the Quilcene Rangers softball rebuild is nearly finished.

The Rangers qualified for the state 1B tournament by beating Muckleshoot 14-4 on Tuesday to win the Sea-Tac 1B League title and the District 2 championship.

“After we made the state championship game in 2018, we started over,” said coach and athletic director Mark Thompson. “We’re on the cusp of that rebuild being done.”

The COVID-19 pandemic was especially tough on small schools, which wiped out the 1B state tournaments in both 2020 and 2021.

At the 1B level, not a lot of schools play softball. Quilcene was only able to play 11 games, but they went 9-2 in those games.

“It’s harder than it used to be. We used to be able to roll into North Kitsap and win,” Thompson said.

“Our players work really hard. They like each other. They play hard and are enthusiastic. They take practice seriously,” said Thompson. He said the team is a great hitting squad and its pitching and defense has been improving all season.

Thompson said sophomore lead pitcher Abby Ward has shown a lot of promise this year, as has eighth-grader Charlotte Fay, who is already hitting 50 mph on her pitches.

The team is still very young with only a couple of seniors. One of them, Savannah McBride, is the leadoff hitter. Thompson said she scores a lot of runs and steals a lot of bases for the Rangers. First baseman Ashley Jones is the senior captain.

Destiny Hack is one of the big sluggers on the team, with a batting average over .500. Thompson said that Sierra Graunke played her way into a starting position in left field with “big hits in big spots,” and that Jayden Talley has played a great shortstop for the Rangers all year.

The Rangers get a long break to the state tournament, which begins May 26 in Yakima. Thompson said he doesn’t mind the 10-day break and gives the team lots of time to practice.

More in Sports

Coach Morgan Worthington talks to her players between innings at a game last week at Dry Creek Elementary. The Roughriders go in to the state tournament Friday ranked No. 3 in the state. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT: All Olympic Peninsula boys make first-day cut

All three Olympic Peninsula boys at the 2A state golf… Continue reading

The Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association's Danielle Woodhouse approaches the finish line at Lake Vancouver this weekend, where she finished second in the B final of the U17 singles race. (Sean Halberg)
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: OPRA rower second at Lake Vancouver race

The Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association concluded its spring season… Continue reading

Port Angeles’ Ava-Anne Sheahan signed to play soccer for Corban University in Salem, Ore., last week surrounded by her family, from left, mother Megan Shean, brother Axel Johnston, sister Addy Johnston and father Bucky Johnston. (Pierre LaBossiere/Peninsula Daily News)
COLLEGE SIGNING: Two-sport star Ava-Anne Sheahan chooses soccer at Corban

Port Angeles’ Ava-Anne Sheahan could have easily picked one… Continue reading

Kody Williams, Port Angeles baseball.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kody Williams, Port Angeles baseball

Port Angeles baseball player Kody Williams has had a spectacular May for… Continue reading

The Rhody Run’s women’s 10K winner, Fiona Fraser, (1131) is on the heels of her father, Ian (1132), who finished fourth among the men, as they exit the Jefferson County Fairgrounds at the start of the 44th annual Jefferson Healthcare Rhody Run on Sunday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
RHODY RUN: Port Townsend’s Fraser family dominates 10K

The Fraser family of Port Townsend dominated the 44th… Continue reading

The Port Angeles softball team celebrates winning the District 3 2A tournament Saturday in Lacey. The Roughriders won by beating North Kitsap 8-1 and Olympic 8-0. (Morgan Worthington)
PREP SOFTBALL: Port Angeles wins district championship

Riders crush rivals North Kitsap, Olympic to win title

Port Angeles Roughriders
DISTRICT BASEBALL: Port Angeles baseball in state 2A tournament after beating Fife

After 4-10-1 start to season, Riders win eighth in a row

PREP SOCCER PLAYOFFS: Port Angeles, Sequim come up short

Both the Port Angeles and Sequim boys soccer teams fell… Continue reading

Sequim’s Nico Musso, third from left, scores the second goal the Wolves’ 2-0 Class 2A West Central District Tournament victory over Bremerton on Thursday at Peninsula College’s Wally Sigmar Field. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
DISTRICT SOCCER: Sequim heads its way into state qualifer

The Sequim boys soccer players and coaches both said… Continue reading