Sports Roundup: Comets cap miracle run in Yakima
Published 1:22 pm Sunday, May 24, 2026
YAKIMA — One week after hoisting the district championship, the Naselle softball team officially reached new heights after completing a miraculous run in Yakima, going 3-1 and finishing in second place in the WIAA 1B state tournament, the highest ever for the Comet softball program.
In the opening-round game on May 21, No. 7 seed Naselle (15-4) beat No. 10 Quilcene (12-5) 12-1, then upset No. 2 Sunnyside Christian (7-6) and No. 6 Colton (21-6) before ultimately falling to top-seeded Liberty Christian (23-3) 7-4 on May 23, concluding a record season for the Comet program.
In the state championship game, the Comets gave the Richland-based Patriots — winners of 16 of their last 17 games — more than a run for their money in a back-and-forth battle.
Trailing 3-0 in the top of the fourth, Naselle senior Brooke Davis (17) and sophomore Emma Kragerud (10) each drove in RBI singles, slashing the deficit to one run. Liberty Christian answered with a couple runs of their own off of Naselle sophomore ace Avrey Ford (1), who kept a potent Patriot attack in check all game.
A relentless Naselle squad answered the bell in the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back singles from freshmen Lili Ford (14) and Margrit Engelson (5), and cashed in on a two-run single by Avrey Ford, slashing the Patriots lead to 6-4 and forcing a Liberty Christian mound visit.
It would be as close as the Comets would come, with the Patriots eventually adding a final run to secure the WIAA 1B state championship, 7-4.
Naselle will lose five players to graduation, including seniors Haylee Rose (12), Brooke Davis (17), Jaylee Bonk (24), Sadie Kilponen (4) and Mallory Helvey (7).
Season notes: The Naselle softball (15-4) team was an offensive juggernaut all season, averaging nearly 14 runs per game and outscoring their opponents by a combined 263-193 margin.
Ilwaco baseball
The No. 9 seed Ilwaco baseball team (18-5) had their season come to an end after being ousted in the opening round of the WIAA 2B state playoffs, losing 8-3 to No. 8 Asotin (17-7) on May 23 in Selah.
The Fishermen will lose two seniors to graduation, Dylan Pelas (11) and Corbin Johnson (16), who were recognized before their final regular-season home game on Saturday, May 2.
Season notes: Ilwaco (18-5) stayed in the 2B top-10 rankings all season, at one point rising to No. 1 after winning nine of their first 10 games and ultimately their fourth straight district championship.
Ilwaco had a remarkable eight players bat above .400 this season, led by Chase Cunningham (.537, 29 hits, 27 RBIs), Dylan Pelas (.476, 30 hits, 20 RBIs), Sawyer Linquist (.451, 23 hits, 16 RBIs) and Corbin Johnson (.446, 25 hits, 27 RBIs).
Raymond/South Bend soccer
The No. 5 seed Raymond/South Bend boys soccer team (17-2-1) concluded their season after falling to No. 12 Meridian 5-0 in the second round of the WIAA 1A state playoffs on May 22, at the Apple Bowl in Wenatchee.
The Ravens will lose nine seniors to graduation, including Kingston Maneman (3), Bryan Benitez Camacho (5), Alex Posada (9), Neri Camerena (13), Michael Nunez (16), Alexiss Morales (18), Jaxxon Raska (25), Enzo Bork (25) and Israel Morales (30).
Season notes: The RSB soccer team — led by striker Jose Ramirez (7) — outscored their opponents by a 110-20 margin this season on their way to a 17-2-1 record and second-place finish in districts.
Ramirez, a 5-foot-10 junior, finished with a remarkable 47 goals this season (2.8 goals per match). RSB junior Adam Mora (10) added 28 goals and senior Alex Posada (9) scored nine more to round out the top-3 scorers on the Ravens club. Junior defender Alexander Bucio (6), junior striker Jose Ramirez (7) and senior midfielder Alex Posada (9) served as team captains.