Auburn Riverside and Auburn Mountainview are lining up play for paradise in the state 4A fastpitch tournament this week.

Auburn Riverside qualified for the state field for the first time in over a decade with a fourth-place finish at the West Central/Southwest bi-district tournament last weekend.

The Ravens, fueled by the resilient pitching of Autumn Lee, reached the semifinals after routing Federal Way 16-7 in the quarterfinals at Boise Creek Park in Enumclaw last Saturday. But on Sunday the Ravens dropped a pair of games – 14-2 to Rogers of Puyallup and 13-6 to Tahoma.

Auburn Riverside (15-7) opens the state tournament against heralded Woodinville (22-0) at 10 a.m. Friday at Spokane’s Dwight-Merkel Sports Complex. If the Ravens win, they play again at 4 p.m. Friday for a ticket to the semifinals on Saturday.

Auburn Mountainview (22-3) also qualified for state, overcoming a first-round loss to Federal Way to finish seventh. The Lions, who fell to Battle Ground 5-3 in a consolation game for fifth place Sunday, will play Jackson (20-3) in a state opener at noon Friday. If the Lions win, they will play at 4 p.m. Friday for a shot at the semifinals.

RAVENS

Auburn Riverside is in a new land.

Coach Bryce Strand said the team went to the district tournament in 3A last season for the first time.

“It was the first time for of us, players and coaches,” Strand said. “We went two and two … we thought that was pretty good. We were a young squad. We are still a young squad… and kind of our next step is going to the state tournament. That’s a great thing, we are really excited about that.”

The Ravens opened the 4A district tournament last Friday, beating Kennedy Catholic 5-3. The girls followed that up with a drubbing of Federal Way behind Karly Tiedeman, who went 4-for-4, driving in six runs and scoring three times.

Auburn Riverside closed the tournament in fourth place after falling to Rogers in the semifinal and 13-6 to Tahoma in a playoff for third.

Against Rogers, Lee went the distance, giving up seven runs, three earned, on eight hits, five Ks and two walks.

Brooke Dye hits a double. Iyana Galarza and Tiedeman hit triples. Lee went 3-for-5, scoring one run.

Tahoma used a 16-hit attack to defeat Auburn Riverside for third place. Lee drove in two runs and Morgan Vollandt batted in another for the Ravens.

The Ravens were down one pitcher for this district games — Jordyn Judge. She suffered a concussion. Strand said she had gone through the concussion protocol and is expected to be able to play in the state tournament.

“They are a very loose group,” Strand said. “They play their best when they are loose. I’ve seen a commitment, an extra commitment in the weight room (this year). Those are the kind of things you have to do to set yourself apart from the other programs.”

LIONS

Auburn Mountainview opened the district tournament with an unexpected 7-3 loss to Federal Way.

“We definitely planned on coming in her playing for the one or two seed,” coach Alicia Thompson said. “We came out and it was a rough start for us. I am really proud of my kids for coming back and digging deep and winning the next two games, especially against Enumclaw. That’s always been a rivalry for us.”

Following the loss, the Lions played two loser-out games to get to the state bracket.

First, the Lions beat Kennedy Catholic 3-1, and the girls followed that up with a 5-4 win over Enumclaw.

In the victory or Kennedy Catholic last Friday, Auburn Mountainview’s No. 1 pitcher Zoe Collins struck out seven, allowing six hits, one run and no walks.

Collins also picked up the win over Enumclaw going 5 1/3 innings, sitting six down, allowing four runs on eight hits and no walks.

“After losing to Federal Way it was a shocker,” Collins said. “We came back harder when we played Enumclaw. We know what state looks like. We’ve had three or four years together, which has built our foundation a lot. That’s where a lot of our success comes from.”

Senior shortstop and catcher Emily Martinez said, “We came back harder when we played Enumclaw. They beat us three years in row.”

Beating Enumclaw was just the medicine the Lions needed. Collins hit one out of the park driving in three RBIs and Emily Bartholomew slammed a triple and scored a run.

The Lions ended the day falling to Battle Ground despite getting home runs from Collins and Bartholomew..

“I am proud of my kids for digging deep and making it,” Thompson said. “Reality is once you get to the state tournament it’s the best 16. Seeding is insignificant at a certain point.”

Auburn Mountainview’s Emily Bartholomew, right, chest bumps Caitlyn Rhoades after launching a home run in the Lions’ 7-5 consolation round loss to Battle Ground on Sunday. RACHEL CIAMPI, Auburn Reporter