Bucs return to state; NK 2nd at districts

North Kitsap lost the district title game and Kingston returns to the 2A state tournament for the first time in 12 years.

After winning against Steilacoom 1-0, North Kitsap lost to Enumclaw 9-6 for the district title May 11.

North Kitsap loaded the bases in the top of the first. Noah Sorenson led the Vikings to their first run by reaching first base safely with two outs. Johnny Borque brought the second run in after being walked. Enumclaw responded with a run in the bottom the first. However, Viking Tate Stearns gave the Vikings their third run on an RBI single in the second. Enumclaw responded again to make it 3-3.

Aaron Groetsch gave the Vikings another lead in the third with an RBI single while Enumclaw tied it at 4-4. Enumclaw took over in the bottom of the fifth when the Hornets loaded the bases. After a few hits, Enumclaw led 9-4.

Viking Nolan Rowe hit an RBi single in the top of the sixth to slim the lead to 9-5. North Kitsap added a final run in the top of seventh but fell short.

Kingston

The Bucs beat Sequim 9-1 at Foss High May 11.

“It’s not what I expected but it has been our goal all year and we put our heads down and grinded all year,” Peau Tameilau said. “There were some ups and downs, and we got it and it feels really good.”

Like the other district games, Kingston struggled in the first couple of innings. A Buc error led to Sequim taking a 1-0 lead after the first inning. However, Kingston responded with 14 at-bats in the bottom of the fourth.

“Our morale has changed, and we are playing good baseball,” Tameilau said.

Tameilau started the inning with a double into center field. Afterward, Izaiah Reynolds and Kyler Hedstrom picked up two RBIs each while Tristan Scott, Chayton Walker, Gavin Garner and Connor Cornwell picked up one RBI each. Kingston picked up its ninth run in the fifth inning from a single by Walker.