Prep softball: Archbishop Murphy’s string of upsets ends in semifinals
Published 5:30 pm Saturday, May 23, 2026
Prep softball roundup for Friday-Saturday, May 22-23:
(Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results and statistics, email sports@heraldnet.com. Please report results by 10:30 p.m.)
2A State Tournament
No. 11 Archbishop Murphy falls in semis
SELAH — The Wildcats (16-12) upset No. 6 East Valley Yakima and No. 3 Port Angeles on Friday before No. 2 W.F. West slipped past them 5-4 on Saturday. No. 15 Olympic then eliminated the Wildcats in the consolation bracket.
Archbishop Murphy came out swinging against East Valley, scoring 12 runs in the top of the first inning of an eventual 20-5 win. Carly Madhaven (3-for-5, 3 RBI, 3 R) doubled twice in the first inning and Ari Dixon (2 BB, 5 RBI) hit a grand slam home run to close out the opening scoring outburst.
Against the third-ranked Roughriders, Sarah Fletcher belted two solo home runs and scored on each of her three hits. Every starter registered a hit or drove in a run to slug the Wildcats into the semifinals. Giselle Silva and Harper Kilby also homered.
The Wildcats finally met their match in the semifinal against second-seeded and eventual tournament runner-up W.F. West, which pushed across three decisive runs in the sixth inning of a 5-4 victory. Harper Kilby hit two solo homers, and Madhaven (3-for-4) and Amaya Hernandez also homered. Maliya Dixon went 2-for-3 with a double.
The tournament came to an end against Olympic. Madhaven (2-for-3, double) and Maliyah Dixon (2-for-3, run) gave the Wildcats some offensive punch, but Archbishop Murphy was done in Olympic’s six-run fourth inning.
No. 1 Mark Morris backed up its ranking, winning the state championship game 9-5.
Class 4A State Tournament
No. 12 Kamiak wins consolation game
The Knights (19-6) gave No. 3 Rogers all it could handle in Friday’s opening round before yielding all three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kamiak managed just one hit, an RBI single by Synclair Mawudeku, who also pitched her first of three complete games on Friday. Mawudeku allowed just one earned run on three hits while striking out three batters.
Mawudeku pitched a gem two hours later, striking out nine batters while firing a two-hitter. She struck out nine while allowing an unearned run. Riley Karabach hit a triple among her two hits, and also scored a run.
Partially undone by four errors in its third game of the day, Kamiak fell out of the tournament with a 7-1 loss to Hanford.
Class 3A State Tournament
LACEY — Stanwood (22-6) advanced to the semis before falling to eventual state champion Mt. Spokane.
Read The Herald’s report of Friday’s games HERE.
Read The Herald’s full of Saturday’s game HERE.
Everett (14-12) lost two one-run games on Friday.
Read The Herald’s report HERE.
Shorewood (16-11) went 1-2 in its first state appearance in 27 years.
Read The Herald’s report HERE.
