Steel Lake encouragement ate up the obstacles in a 13-4 defeat of Soundview in last Wednesday's District 10 Little League Majors (10-12 age) softball Tournament of Champions held at the Federal Way National Baseball Complex.

"The theme was E.A.T. - Effort, Attitude and Teamwork," explained SL manager Terome Fulmore.

For the better part of three innings the underdog Soundview team more than held its own against the squad that had overwhelmed it twice during the regular season.

After a one-out single by Jordan Sallee and a walk to Erin McCune, Soundview scored on two wild pitches to lead 2-0 in the top of the second inning.

Steel Lake quickly fired back in the bottom of the inning when Jasmin Fulmore reached base on an error before being joined on the bags by Alyssa Woods, who subsequently drew a base on balls. A wild pitch sent one runner trotting home and Emma Finnson's ground out to the pitcher tied the score at 2-2.

Two walks and wild pitches sent Soundview ahead 3-2 in the top of the third as SL hurler Katie Jackson struggled to find the plate with her blazing pitches.

"I was probably overthrowing a little bit," she admitted. "I knew my teammates were helping me and the defense was awesome."

Consecutive bunt singles by Annalise Campbell and Jackson preceded Lexis Pawloski's run-scoring single. Fulmore also knocked in a run by singling as part of a four-run SL third. Errors and wild pitches also contributed to the Steel Lake scoring salvo that gave it a 6-3 margin.

"I wasn't concerned that Soundview was ahead," stated SL's Lexis Pawlowski. "We've played them before. This time they were more prepared."

Gamely trying to stay close, Soundview manufactured a single tally in the fourth inning, but in the bottom of the inning Campbell, Woo and Jackson jammed through singles that augmented two walks and a wild pitch to jet away to a 9-4 dominance.

Campbell again surfaced by ripping a two-run double in a four run fifth for Steel Lake while Jackson set Soundview down in order in the sixth to seal the deal.

In the beginning, Jackson fired popping fast pitches, but also displayed erratic control. After a conference with Fulmore and the infielder on the mound after SV had taken a 3-2 lead in the third inning, Jackson stranded a runner on third base with two consecutive strike outs and yielded only one more run the rest of the game.

"We encouraged her by talking about her favorite food, favorite movie and other things to take her mind off the situation," explained Fulmore. "Then we told her to relax and go for it. Her best pitching is late in the game. If she's pitching hot, she gets hotter and tends to power it in there."

Leading all batters was Campbell, who batted 4-for-4 with a double, and 2 RBI.

"I'm hitting a lot more this year," declared Campbell. "My dad has a facility with batting cages and I've worked on my batting. I like faster pitching. Even though we beat Soundview before, I didn't want too get too cocky. I knew we could beat them.

Excitement filled the air for another SL player.

"I feel very excited," exclaimed Halle Colson. "Last year, we didn't do so hot in the TOC. This year it was awesome."

Members of the 2008 District 10 Little League Softball Tournament of Champions titleists are Madeline Colson, Emma Larson, Halle Colson, Annalise Campbell, Celine Woo, Katie Jackson, Lexis Pawloski, Jasmin Fulmore, Alyssa Woods, Alysea Zaragoza and Emma Finnson.

Assisting manager Fulmore are coaches Jame Pawloski, Charles Woo and Mark Larson.