The Federal Way American Little League Junior All Star team went 3-2 in their state tournament games at Medical Lake High School in Spokane.

In their opening game, the Americans lost a close 6-5 battle to Hazel Dell. Mitch Stewart pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts.

Hazel Dell scored two runs in the fourth inning, but FWALL struck back with three in the fifth, with Mitchell Garza's triple and RBI singles from Stewart and Shires. American added two more in the sixth with Renne Jones' double leading things off and RBI singles from Jay-J Jones and Stewart. However, HD rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out the victory.

Branden Shires batted 3-for-3 with a double,triple and two RBIs.Mitch Stewart was 2- for- 4 with two runs batted in.

Federal Way responded with an 8-2 defeat of Stilly Valley in the single-elimination bracket.

FWALL scored several times in the early going, aided by some SV errors and a triple from Maertins. Shires had two RBI and Matt Walls started two run-scoring rallies with a walk and single. Maertins struck out 10 before leaving in the sixth, but J Jones and Musstafa Niazi closed the game effectively.

Andrew Maertins pitched five and two thirds innings of shutout ball, giving up only four hits while striking out 10 batters.

Keeping its momentum, Federal Way American outslugged West Plains of Spokane 18-13 in its next encounter. Mitch Stewart and Joe Potts blasted three hits and three runs each, Stewart, Maertins, Walls, and Niazi each had two RBI.

West Plains took an early 4-1 lead, but a 10 run third inning put FWALL ahead to stay. The inning was highlighted by consecutive singles from Walls, Niazi, J Jones, and Stewart and furthered along by some WP errors. FWALL later stretched the lead behind run-scoring base hits from Shires, Niazi, J Jones,and Austin Noteboom before WP rallied to close the gap.

Musstafa Niazi pitched five innings for the win.

Game number four began with Fort Vancouver grabbing an early 3-0 lead. Federal Way American. American staged a six-run surge with two out in the second inning to take the lead for good.

Stewart singled with the bases loaded followed by a Maertins two-run double to secure the lead. Shires followed with a left field, fence clearing two-run homer to cap the rally. It was Stewart who initiated two additional rallies with a single and a triple while being pushed home each time by Maertins. Noteboom added and RBI single.

J Jones pitched into the sixth inning for the five-run, six-hitter win while Noteboom recorded the final five outs in relief.

Stewart batted 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored as Maertins was 2-for-4 with four RBI. Shires hammered a two-run homer.

Eventual state runner-up West Valley outlasted American in a wild 22-10 win that began with two scoreless innings. WV broke a scoreless tie with five third inning runs before Federal Way American struck back with a three-spot, led by an RBI single from Stewart and Maertins' two-run double

West Valley fired home four runs in the fourth inning for an 11-4 lead that stood until the bottom of the sixth.

Federal Way unloaded its firepower in a six run sixth inning salvo. Consecutive singles from Potts, Walls and Niazi started the rally. Despite a double play, hits by R. Jones and Stewart kept the rally alive. Shires' home run pulled the Americans within 11-10, but West Valley counter attacked with 11 big runs in the top of the seventh inning to send Federal way home with a fourth place finish.

Stewart batted 3- for- 4 and scored three runs and Maertins clubbed two hits with three RBI. Shires unloaded a two-run homer.
:The Federal Way American 13 and 14 year-old District 10 champions included Mitchell Garza, J.J. Jones, Renne Jones, Christian Lindbom, Andrew Maertins, Austin Noteboom, Mustafa Niazi, Joe Potts, Branden Shires, Mitch Stewart, Kyle Tanemura and Matt Walls.

Federal Way American is managed by Bob Clinton and coached by Nick Clinton, Jerry Stewart and Matt Jones.

(Compiled from reports provided by Bob Clinton).