5 Washington high school (WIAA) softball 2023 championship storylines worth following - plus title-game predictions

WIAA softball is ready to make one final splash in the sun.

The six state championship tournaments are set to kick off Friday - with Class 4A and 1A in Richland; Class 3A in Lacey, Class 2A in Selah and the Class B tournaments in Yakima.

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Only two 2022 champions are in position to defending their WIAA crowns - Pe Ell/Willapa Valley in Class 2B and Liberty Christian in Class 1B.

Here are five storylines worth monitoring Friday through Saturday:

WHAT ARE ODDS OF JACKSON-BOTHELL TITLE-GAME REMATCH?

Based on recent history, more than pretty good.

Not only have the past five Class 4A champions come from District 1/2 - eight of the past 10 finalists have come from the KingCo or Wesco.

"I’ve been doing this for a long time, and it is the best," Jackson softball coach Kyle Peacocke said. "There are other individual schools out there that are very good, but collectively between KingCo and Wesco, what you’ve seen over the last 10 years is crazy."

Last week, second-ranked Jackson defeated No. 1 Bothell, 2-1, in the bi-district title game.

This week in Richland, they are the top two seeds in the WIAA bracket, which means they very well could be on a title-game collision course.

What separates them from the others this spring? Ace pitching.

Jackson's Yanina Sherwood went 19-1 with a 0.41 earned-run average, striking out 226 batters. She is a UNLV commit as a junior.

Bothell's Julianne Rose, the 4A KingCo pitcher of the year, went 16-0 with a 1.18 ERA, striking out 166 batters. She did not pitch in the bi-district title game because of soreness. Teammate Taryn Bennett added seven wins (and a 2.50 ERA) with 118 strikeouts.

WHAT IS IMPACT OF MADDIE MILHORN'S INJURY?

Before last weekend, the Class 4A favorites had the "Big Three" - Jackson, Bothell and 4A GSHL champion Skyview, the reigning state runner-up.

But in last weekend's District 3/4 tournament in Kent, Skyview ace pitcher Maddie Milhorn went down after a pitch during the Storm's bi-district quarterfinal victory over Decatur.

Coming off a serious knee injury last spring, the team opted to hold her out Saturday with an ankle injury. Skyview lost to Emerald Ridge, 9-5, in the WCD semifinals, then dropped an 11-7 decision to Rogers of Puyallup for the No. 3 seed for its first two losses of the season.

Committee members of 4A bracket seeding obviously gave the Storm - particularly Milhorn - the benefit of being at full strength in Richland because the program was given the No. 3 seed.

How much of a difference does the hard-throwing sophomore make?

She is arguably the best two-way player in the state - and the numbers back that up.

Milhorn hit .603 with 15 home runs and 41 RBI this spring. In the circle, she went 9-0 with a 0.75 ERA with 188 strikeouts in 93-plus innings. She's given up just three extra-base hits all spring (all home runs).

For what it's worth, Milhorn's father made it clear on social media Sunday that his daughter would be ready for the WIAA tournament.

IS THERE NO CLEAR 3A FAVORITE?

Unlike in previous seasons when the Class 3A ranks had a favorites or co-favorites - this week's WIAA bracket is wide open.

Just ask Mike Paul, the softball coach at Peninsula, which comes in as the top seed after capturing the District 3/4 title over previous-No. 1 Bonney Lake.

"There are potentially eight teams that can win it," Paul said. "And there are teams ... if they get hot (with the bats), they can win games."

All four of the top seeds - No. 1 Peninsula, No. 2 Snohomish, No. 3 Liberty of Issaquah and No. 4 Bonney Lake - have enough pitching to keep opposing offenses at bay, and the bats to score runs.

But don't forget about 3A Metro champion Roosevelt, 4A/3A GSL champion Mount Spokane and reigning state runner-up Walla Walla, which continued its late-season rally by winning the District 8 title.

CAN NORTH KITSAP COMPLETE UNDEFEATED RUN IN 2A?

Can 21-0 North Kitsap - one of two undefeated programs in the state - go on and win the Class 2A title in Selah?

In the 25-year history of 2A softball, only twice has an Olympic League program won the WIAA title - North Mason in 2007, and Sequim in 2011.

But in the absence of a true favorite, plus the unexpected elimination of defending state champion Tumwater, W.F. West and Shadle Park at the district level - why not the Vikings?

"I didn't expect us to be undefeated," North Kitsap softball coach Clay Blackwood said. "We do have a lot of talent. It's making sure we get it dialed in right."

The lineup is deep, led by leadoff hitter Mackenzie Phillips, who should be one of the tougher outs in the tournament. She is also on a power-hitting binge, coming off a three-home run performance in the District 2/3 title-game victory over league rival Port Angeles.

But the revelation has come in the circle with sophomore Reese Anderson, whom Blackwood said has "emotional intelligence" well beyond her years.

"Her mound presence is always the same," Blackwood said.

WILL ANYBODY RUIN 'B' PARTY FOR ADNA, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN?

Up until last weekend, the resounding answer was "No!"

At the Class 'B' tournaments Friday and Saturday in Yakima, returning Class 2B finalist Adna and reigning Class 1B champion Liberty Christian are the clear favorites to nab state championships.

In fact, 18 of undefeated Liberty Christian's 21 victories have come by double-digit margins. The Patriots are loaded offensively, and have the best pitching duo in the tournament with Hannah Butcher and Bella Rogel.

"This whole season, even though (state playoffs) was on the tip of our tongue, we kept our head down, kept grinding - kept working," Liberty Christian softball coach Edgar Rogel said. "Nobody has mentioned state until last week."

Adna had not lost to a Class 2B opponent until Saturday when it ran into Ocosta two-way standout Jessie Gilbert, who shut out the Pirates, 3-0, in the District 4 title game.

The teams could be in line for a rematch in the state semifinals. And even though Adna is the more complete team, Gilbert is a worthy equalizer - 12-1 with a 0.72 ERA and 266 strikeouts in the circle, and 10 home runs on offense.

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4A BRACKET and championship prediction: Jackson d. Bothell, 4-2

3A BRACKET and championship prediction: Snohomish d. Bonney Lake, 6-4

2A BRACKET and championship prediction: Ridgefield d. North Kitsap, 7-6

1A BRACKET and championship prediction: Montesano d. Royal, 9-7

2B BRACKET and championship prediction: Adna. d. Warden, 11-4

1B BRACKET and championship prediction: Liberty Christian d. Sunnyside Christian, 8-2

Tickets: Single-day pass is $11 for adults, $8 for students/senior citizens. Tournament passes are $20/$14.