PNW Force Fastpitch wins Cascades Nationals 10U title in dominant fashion

LACEY — There was no stopping the PNW Force Fastpitch 10U team at the Cascades National Championship over the past four days. 

The Olympia-based squad cruised their way to the 10-and-under championship with a perfect 6-0 record by outscoring opponents 58-7. The Force capped off the title run with an emphatic 10-2 win over the Lady Climbers Sunday in the title game, which was the first time the team trailed in the tournament. 

They responded to an early 2-0 deficit in the first inning with five runs in the bottom of the first, emphasized by a two-run home run by Brielle Sirjesse to center field. Sirjesse was named the tournament MVP as she hit two homers and drove in 10 runs.

“We have a good bond, and we’re always cheering each other on,” she said. “We can always count on each other.”

Quinn House was named the tournament’s top pitcher, and Mikayla Shahan earned the offensive MVP award. 

Kaylee Richardson came up clutch in the title game with two hits and two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the first inning after Jordyn Turnquist tied it with an RBI single of her own. House, Kinsley Smith and Dakota Gillman each drove in a run.

Jayne King started the game in the circle and struck out five batters, and House finished it off with two hitless innings and piling up five strikeouts. King and House were strikeout machines through the tournament, as King sent down 24 batters in 11 innings pitched, while House recorded 19 strikeouts in only seven innings of work.

The full PNW Force Fastpitch 10U roster is as follows: Pailynn Nelson, Dakota Gillman, Elizabeth Ross, Adalyn Gillman, Payton Rosado, Jordyn Turnquist, Quinn House, Brielle Sirjesse, Cora Winter, Mikayla Shahan, Kaylee Richardson, Kinsley Smith and Jayne King. The team is coached by Mackenzie Theophilus and Darin Theophilus.