While the Steel Lake Senior All Stars powered to the 15 and 16 year-old 2008 Washington Little League state championship and Federal Way National competed in the state 10-11 year-old baseball tournament, other area baseball and softball teams have also been excelling in tournaments at other sites.

At Freedom Field in Mill Creek Sports Park, the Steel Lake Little League All Stars dropped their opening game of the 13-team state tournament on Sunday, July 20. Bainbridge Island topped the 11 and 12 year-olds, 7-5, to earn a berth in the semifinals.

District 10 champion Steel Lake bowed out of the tournament on July 22 in a tough, 6-4, loss to Redmond North.

Roster players for Steel Lake are Jesse Fite, Tommy Amato, Jake Kolterman, Drew Huttenlocker, Hunter McSwain, Mikey ‘Mojo’ Mojica, Jacob Nugent, Zachary Lane, Alex Poltz, Jordan Price, Clayton Regehr and Eddie Sweeney. Manager Richard Price is assisted by coaches Dale Fite and Scott Kolterman. District 10 administrator is Charlie Frampton.

In state Junior ( 13-14 age) Little League baseball conducted at Skagit Valley College Dream Field, the Mount Vernon PUD Field and La Conner High School, the Soundview All Stars of Northeast Tacoma/Browns Point began on July 14 with a 7-5 victory against Rainier District before blasting Bellevue West, 11-2.

After Columbia of Vancouver dropped Soundview, 12-2, the Northeast Tacoma/Browns Point contingent regrouped for a dramatic, 3-1, edging out of West Plains. Soundview submarined Key Peninsula, 4-1, before Selah National eliminated them, 8-5, in the consolation final on July 23.

Soundview players are Patrick Minzel, Max Malthesen, Adam Lensegrav, Austen Brand, Klayton Leingang, Shane Kurosky, Chris Bower, Ian Clark, Dylan Rogers and Thailan Springstead.

Mike Clark manages the team and is assisted by coach Kip Leingang. Justin Hinle is the league president.

Featured fastpitch softball action from Lower Woodland Park in Seattle on July 18-20 had Sudden Impact capturing the gold medal after concluding as champions of the 12-and-under ASA Washington State Games.

Going unbeaten at 5-0 for the tournament, Sudden Impact outlasted a rugged Issaquah Flames team, 9-2, in the championship fray.

For the year, the Sudden impact team has garnered three tournament championships. In its last four tournaments, the hugely successful squad has captured two titles and two third-place finishes.

Players for Sudden Impact are Kyra Adams, Sierra Bains, Audrey Birklid, Kelsey Cearley, Brooke Feldmeier, Stephanie Granger, Hien Hong, Krista Jones, Makenzie Lunstroth, Kayla McLaughlin, Kylie McCown, Kelsey McDonnell, Miriam Santana, Alyssa Ubrun and Taylor Weimern-Pierce.

The 12U team is coached by Raj Bains, Travis Ubrun, Terry Cearley, Brett Adams, Pat McDonnell and Kaitlyn Bailey.

Since 1990, the Sudden Impact organization has been involved with competitive fastpitch for Federal Way.