AUBURN - It was a sterling summer sports saga that finally reached an inescapable end.

Fresh off a 19-9 elimination of District 3 Aberdeen, hard-hitting District 2 representative South Kitsap Western ended the journey of the Federal Way National All Stars at the 2008 Washington Little League 10-11 age state baseball tournament with an 8-4 loser-out consolation victory against the Nationals on Tuesday, July 22.

After the season-ending loss, there was still a celebration to come for FWN - cookies and cupcakes in honor of manager Tim Robbins’ birthday the day before.

Robbins related his thanks, appreciation and honor for getting to know the players and parents before stopping to share his final thoughts about the experience.

“It’s not what we expected for an ending,” he explained. “Falling behind may have reminded them about the surrealistic experience of the first game, but the other team played made the plays and got the critical hits. It’s been an honor to get to know the kids and parents.”

Federal Way started off nicely against the South Kitsap team with a two-out, first inning sting. Markus Montelongo drew a free pass ahead of a Scotty Sunitsch single off the pitcher’s ankle. Taylor ‘TJ’ Davis doubled home a run, but no further scoring occurred.

In the bottom of the inning, the Nationals were under heavy and hostile fire. A lead-off home run by Logan Knowles inspired a three-run SKW salvo.

It was clobbering time for Federal Way National in the top of the third inning. Sunitsch walked to begin a two-out lightning strike. Davis doubled again to position runners on second and third for Donavan Castro to notch an RBI single. Garrett ‘G’ Westberg singled up the middle to tie the score at 3-3. Further scoring was cut off by a fielder’s choice ground out.

Back came South Kitsap Western with a bottom of the inning bombardment. After a lead off double, two consecutive strike outs had the Nationals on the verge of escaping without damage. A walk led to three consecutive hits and a 6-3 lead.

South Kitsap Western touched Federal Way pitching for a single tally in the fourth before Taylor’s one-out double in the fifth set up Westberg’s run-scoring single one strikeout later.

SKW scored once in the bottom of the inning for the game’s final scoring.

“I came ready to play,” said 11 year-old Taylor who blasted three doubles with an RBI in three plate appearances. “I knew we needed a lot of hitting today. This was my first time at state and my dad and I practiced a lot.”

Westberg added to the Federal Way National offense with two run-scoring singles in three at bats.

Memorable experiences mirrored the feelings of other Federal Way National players.

“It was exciting,” conveyed Christian Stafford. “We had a lot of fun. My most memorable time was the double I hit yesterday.”

The taste of defeat was bitter, but the experience was gratifying according to another FWN athlete.

“I’m disappointed,” Montelongo softly said. “But I had happy times and enjoyed playing in this tournament.”

With his team’s tournament survival at stake, Federal Way right hander Taylor ‘TJ’ Davis pitched a sparkling one-hit 60-pitch, 10-0 shutout of District 8 Northshore on Monday, July 21, in a shortened loser-out consolation game of the Washington Little League 10-11 age state baseball tournament at Sunset Park.

“I prayed in the morning,” related Davis. “My dad and I went over some things. I used my knuckle curve. I haven’t used it in a long time.”

The dominance of Davis was further accentuated by a breakdown of the results from the 17 batters he faced. Davis forced seven ground outs, two pop fly outs and a fly ball out for his dynamic defense to go along with five strike outs and one walk. The base hit he allowed was to Northshore’s second batter of the game.

Scotty Sunitsch homered for the Nationals with the bases empty in the fourth inning as the only run of the game until the bottom of the fifth when District 10 Federal Way National destroyed the tense pitching battle.

Brandon Henderson drew a leadoff walk before Markus Montelongo rifled a single. Sunitsch doubled home one run ahead of a Davis run-scoring single. Donavan Castro Mesa was intentionally walked to load the bases. One strike out later, Jon Charbonneau drew a free pass to extend Federal Way National’s margin to 4-0.

Continuing its scoring surge, National notched another run on an infield error and Max Dalrymple blasted a two-run double for a 7-0 lead. The next batter struck out, but Montelongo hit his second single of the inning to stretch the lead by an additonal run.

Like a continuing Broadway hit musical, Sunitsch drew applause for his second double of the inning for the two runs that forced an end to the game due to the 10-run mercy rule.

“I was hoping we’d have a break out game,” sai Sunitsch, who batted 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and four runs batted in. “Everybody hit well. Taylor did a great job pitching. I couldn’t ask for a better day to play with the sun and blue sky. I wanted to be calm. It’s all fun.”

Other offensive stars included Davis (2-3, RBI) and Montelongo (2-3, RBI).

In the tournament debut for District 10, District 12 champion Greater Richland literally walked over Federal Way 14-6.

Fourteen hits and two hit batters against four Federal Way National pitchers turned the game into a Sunday afternoon walk for District 12. Only left handed relief pitcher Donavan Castro escaped the scoring walkathon by pitching a scoreless fifth inning.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this in 15 years of coaching,” said a perplexed Robbins. “There’s something very unusual about this.”

District 10 National grabbed a 1-0 first inning lead when Garrett Westberg’s fly ball to center field was dropped, scoring Lawyer Braun. Federal Way National loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second inning before stranding the base runners.

In the bottom of the inning, Greater Richland capitalized on five walks, two hits, a hit batter and an infield error to take a 5-1 advantage.

Justyn Ekness plated a Federal Way run with a ground out to start a National rally. Max Dalrymple power bombed a one-bouncer over the left-field fence for a ground rule two-run double, drawing District 10 within 5-4.

Walks led to a three-run Richland counter strike in the bottom of the inning. TJ Davis touched the scoreboard for an RBI double in the fourth before District 12 Richland walked away for a six-run stroll in the bottom of the fourth. Markus Montelongo drove home FWN’s final run on a single in the fifth inning.

Scotty Sunitsch paced FWN on offense, delivering a 3-for-4 batting day. Dalrymple batted 2-for-4 including a double and 2 RBI. Montelongo also batted 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.

Federal Way National players representing District 10 at the state tournament are Brandon Henderson, Justyn Ekness, Donavan Castro, Scotty Sunitsch, Christian Stafford, Dax Wallat, Jon Charbonneau, Max Dalrymple, Zachary Nunez, Garrett Westberg, Markus Montelongo, Taylor ‘TJ’ Davis and Lawyer Braun.

Coaching with manager Robbins are Tomas Montelongo and Marcus Hudson. Charlie Frampton is the District 10 administrator.