OLYMPIA — The Sabotage 18u softball team’s starting lineup Tuesday combined the top half of the order that won Adna the 2B state title in May, two of Centralia’s big boppers that led the Tigers to Selah, first-team all-leaguers from the 2A EvCo and the Central 2B League, and a 3A ace.
And it went about as well for their opponents as you’d expect.
The eldest Sabotage team attending the USSSA Cascade National Championships roared out of the gate, smacking Montesano 13-5 before obliterating the Washington Reapers 18-5 in five innings.
“This is like an all-star team,” said Ken Olson, acting as head coach for the day with regular skipper Candy Hallom out. “It’s much more relaxing for me.”
Sabotage dropped three crooked numbers in its second game, pulling away from their foes from Spokane for good with a 10-run fourth inning that included home runs from both Brooklyn Loose and Kendall Humphrey.
Both Humphrey (coming off her sophomore year at Adna) and Loose (committed to play at LCC next spring) finished triples shy of the cycle; Humphrey logged five RBIs and Loose had three. Both started their days off with bombs against Montesano as well.
Between them in the lineup, Karlee VonMoos — another LCC-bound Pirate — went 3 for 3 with a walk and four runs scored, while Yelm’s Madisyn Erickson was 4 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
Erickson also went the distance in the circle in the four-inning win, surrendering five runs on seven hits while striking out two.
Judy Vallejo, who just graduated from Centralia and will play for Centralia College next year, went 2 for 3 with a pair of runs driven in.
Tuesday opened the five-day Cascade Nationals event, with 70 teams across seven divisions taking part and playing in Chehalis, Olympia, and Lacey. Out of those, nine teams are from Lewis County, with area players scattered across outside teams as well.
The 14u Chehalis Cats, trotting out the future of W.F. West, went 2-0 with a 14-2 run-rule win and a 6-2 victory. Joining them in the ranks of the undefeateds, the 10u Closers (out of Adna) went 2-0 at Rec Park, including a 7-2 win over the 10u Devils (out of Toledo) in the day’s only all-Lewis County matchup, while 10u PAC Fastpitch (from Chehalis) and Sabotage 10u both went 1-0.
Sabotage 16u split its two games Tuesday, Sabotage 14u went 0-2, and the 12u Blue Thunder from Chehalis went 0-1.
Pool play is set to wrap up Wednesday, before tournament play begins Thursday and runs through Saturday.
