Trojans, Ravens bumped from district tournament

Both teams open with wins then run into trouble

By Reporter Staff • May 20, 2019 3:30 pm

After delivering solid league play this season, the Auburn and Auburn Riverside softball teams found district company downright difficult.

Auburn, the North Puget Sound League Olympic Division champion, dropped two out of three games to meet elimination at the rain-delayed 4A West Central District/Southwest tournament at the Kent Service Club Ballfields on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament was postponed Friday because of rain-socked poor field conditions. Play was pushed back a day, opening Saturday and concluding Sunday.

Auburn (19-4) opened with a 10-o rout of Olympia before stumbling to Sumner 17-1 in five innings on Saturday. The Trojans then lost to Rogers of Puyallup 8-6 in an elimination game Sunday. Jillian Tinsley launched two home runs and drove in three runs, and Hailey Browne belted another home run and drove in Auburn’s three other runs against Rogers.

Auburn Riverside went 2-3 in the tournament. The Ravens (19-9) survived an elimination game – a 9-6 win over Kennedy Catholic – to reach a playoff for the district’s seventh and final berth to state but lost 14-5 to Rogers on Sunday.

The Ravens beat Rogers in the tournament opener, 9-8, but were derailed by Tahoma 20-9 in the second round. Following their win against Kennedy Catholic, the Ravens fell to Camas 12-1.