Quite a game between the Pac West Blue Diamonds and Federal Way American Thunderbats Thursday. Give the more creative name award to the former and give the game to them, too, as Pac West won this District 7 Majors Tournament of Champions game, 11-9, at Valley Ridge Park on the Tyee High School Campus.

"I am glad we won, it was really hard," said Pac West pitcher Taylor Gower, who pitched a complete game and, aside from a couple innings of woes, was wonderful out there for her manager, and dad, Rich Gower.

"We lost this game last year," said manager Gower.

"We lost, 1-0, to (Highline) National," said Taylor.

Just a lot of good participation in this one from the start from the Gower dad and daughter.

Taylor led off with a single to get herself and her teammates' confidence higher. Probably their confidence was a lot higher when the next batter, Olivia Lopez, hit a RBI triple and it was 1-0. Now that was after an error that maybe got American pitcher Jordan Kelly a little lost of her focus. She had got the first two batters out to start the game, according to her dad and ironically, also the manager of American, Tom Kelly.

"We got two outs right away and then we threw the ball away (at first) and that is what started the landslide," said manager Kelly.

That started a slide for American, which was down, 4-0, before the top half of the first inning was through, but, then, showing a comeback ability, came back in their bottom half of the first with four runs. First for them was Morgan Carlson, reaching base by error, then a single from Kristin Holm and Jordan Kelly walking made it good for Faith Oiph, who hit them in with a shot to right field. Then a hit by pitch by Pac West pitcher Gower to American batter Nicole Jacobson, led to more problems, as did catcher interference. When that smoke cleared, believe it or not, including a steal of home by Oiph, the score was 4-4 after one inning of play.

Pitcher Gower was in a little funk too, but she quickly got out of it, thanks to her teammates, and her offense at the top of the second inning. Starting off, Gower drew a walk and stole second on a wild pitch. Gower went home on a Lopez bloop single in to shallow right field, and it was 5-4, Pac West. Then Britney Johns was hit by a pitch and took her base. After a double steal from Lopez and Johns standing them at second and third, Haily Moore mashed the ball over the first base tailing away but bouncing in first. That ball went so far into the corner that Lopez and Johns scored. And so did Moore. It was a home run for Moore and it was 8-4 Pac West.

New American pitcher, Jacobson walked the leadoff batter before retiring the side in order, strikeout, strikeout, strikeout. Grandpa could be heard yelling from his lounge chair, "Settle down, Nic."

She must have heard him. Problem was that Gower was tough, too. And Gower's teammate backed that toughness with some offense to score one more and lead 9-4, on a Moore single to right field and three walks to force in a runner.

American could have given up, down five, going into the bottom of five. No. And, not even close. They gave Gower all she could handle on the hill. Kendall Sanford drew a walk and stole second. Eyerusalem Dessie drew a walk. A double steal later, so Sanford and Dessie were at second and third standing, it was then a couple more walks, the latter forced in another Pac West run, to make it 10-6. Then, as Oiph stood at first base after her walk, she went to second base with her fleet feet. A walk to Jacobson was next. Then Oiph went for third base and stole it and the ball was thrown from the Pac West catcher to try and get a tag and out. But the ball was thrown high, way high, and it went way out of bounds as the left fielder was not ready for that one. Both Oiph and Jacobson scored to make it 10-8 Pac West.

Gower was still smiling while wearing dark shades, staring down batters and trying to get outs, but it was difficult to keep a level head with all the action going on.

"I was a little frustrated," said Gower.

What about her dad, manager Gower?

"I was confident she would pull through," he said.

And she did, after a score from American. Jacobson collected an RBI single to make it 10-9 Pac West.

Then in the top of the sixth inning, Pac West added an insurance run before Jacobson, who did great work on the hill in relief, allowed two runs on one hit to shut Pac West down. She had three straight strikeouts, including starting off with a no ball, two strike count before throwing all strikes and only one ball.

"It was fun," said Jacobson, who is a young girl in this league and already a star. Jacobson is 10. The majority of the girls are 11 or 12 year olds.

American had one more try in the bottom of the sixth to come back and win this one.

After the first American batter popped the ball up for an out, the next batter gave it a great try. Alyssa Baucom fouled off five pitches from Gower before hitting the ball.

"I was thinking of trying to put the ball outside on her," said Gower. "She did a good job hitting the ball."

Baucom hit the ball to the infield but it was an out and that was

the game.

Now, there is no district tournament but the Blue Diamonds of Pac West will go to Walla Walla for the state tournament.

"We will combine our teams for all-stars," said Kelly

It will include Highline National as well as Pac West and American.

Players for Pac West Blue Diamonds are Karina Vitzke, Kirsten Nogle, Emma Miller, Brianna Pighin, Kindra Smith, Hailey Moore, Olivia Lopez, Taylor Gower.

Players for Federal Way American Thunderbats are Jordan Kelly, Madison Kelly, Kristina Holm, Kendall Sanford, Faith Oiph, Nicole Jacobson, Morgan Carlson, Alyssa Baucom, Crystal Matson, Nise Liusamoa, Glory Fogalele, Melissa Weatherhogg, Kendra Bullman, Eyerusalem Dessie.