Sea-King 4A softball: Woodinville claims title

BELLEVUE — One hit, one run, one title.

The Woodinville Falcons only had one hit, but they came away with the one run they needed to win their first Sea-King 4A District fastpitch championship with a 1-0 victory over Juanita at Hidden Valley.

The Falcons had their lone hit in the sixth inning, as first baseman Dani Weir, the daughter of coach Jim Weir, bounced a 1-2 pitch from the Rebels' Savana Lloyd off Lloyd's foot for an infield single, allowing Keely Helbock to score from third base.

Woodinville pitcher Lindsay Boughton did the rest, retiring Juanita in order to seal the win and the KingCo title for the undefeated Falcons (23-0). They will be the No. 1 seed to the state 4A tournament starting Friday at the South End Recreation Area in Tacoma.

Juanita later claimed the second seed to state with a perfect game by Traci Odegard in a 4-0 win over Eastlake.

Before Dani Weir's winning hit and RBI, Lloyd's only blemishes were two hit batters and a walk

"We knew what we were in store for," said Jim Weir. "Lloyd was dealing it out there today. But we only needed one run to win it."

After a season of blowing most of their opponents away, the narrow victory was a welcome sight for coach Weir and the rest of the Falcons.

"We needed to be challenged," Jim Weir said. "We were definitely ready to play this game. There have been games where we haven't scored in four or five innings; then we open up a can and score four or five. This is the first time I think we've scored one run and won."

Dani Weir had struck out twice before the sixth inning. Helbock had walked, and advanced to third on two straight ground outs before coming home on the winning single.

"We all had the jitters before the game," Dani Weir said, "but we knew we could come out ahead. We've worked together for the same goal. Now, we're excited for state. This definitely gives us a taste of what state will be like.

"Playing like this makes us better. I think we're ready for it."

Other games

Juanita 4, Eastlake 0 (winner second to state, loser out)

Pitcher Traci Odegard tossed a perfect game against the Wolves (14-10) and put the Rebels (19-4) in the state 4A tournament.

"I didn't realize it until the seventh inning," Odegard said. "I heard a fan say it."

She got all the run support she needed in the second, as Syd Uebelacker hit an RBI single, followed by Leigha Anderson's two-run single.

"It was a great win today," said Juanita coach Jerry Crowder. "Our goal was to get in and finish in the top 10."

Eastlake 3, Lake Washington 0 (loser out)

Erin Schindler pitched a three-hit shutout and was 2 for 3 from the plate as the Wolves eliminated the Kangaroos (11-11).

Eastlake 2, Redmond 1 (11 innings, loser out)

Krista Parker scored from second base on a throwing error in the top of the 11th inning for the Wolves' winning run against the Mustangs (17-5).

Lake Washington 5, Inglemoor 0 (loser out)

Jamie Herrick shut down the Vikings (14-9) on three hits as the Kangaroos eliminated the defending state 4A champions.