Kingston snuck into the state tournament as the 16-seed after winning three straight games at the district tournament.

Their reward, unfortunately, for making state tournament for the first time in 12 years was facing top-seed Enumclaw at Auburn High May 18.

Although Kingston was a long shot, the Bucs only lost 5-3.

Chayton Walker and Gavin Garner started the game by reaching base safely. However, the next three batters failed to move the runners along.

Walker stepped onto the mound to face the Hornets and stung the batters early with a couple of strikeouts. Kingston picked up two outs to start the second inning but picked up two runners on base too. However, the Bucs stranded the runners again.

Tristan Scott gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead in the top of the third with an RBI hit. Tyson Oliver followed with a 2 RBI double to extend the lead to 3-0. The Bucs loaded the bases with two outs but could not score any more runs.

But Enumclaw’s offense caught fire in the bottom of the third. The Hornets scored four runs, including on a passed ball and a pair of RBI singles. Enumclaw extended its lead to 5-3 with another RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

Kingston’s Peau Tamieleau began the top of the seventh with a double. However, a double play ruined the Bucs chance for the upset.

The winners improved to 22-1, while Kingston’s season ended at 14-11.

North Kitsap

North Kitsap defeated West Valley 6-4 in the first round of the state tournament. The Eagles scored first, capturing a run in the first inning. The Vikings responded with five runs in the bottom of the second.

Noah Sorenson began the inning with a walk while Jonathan Borque followed with a single. Alex Elton picked up the first RBI by an infield single and Spencer Gillespie followed with a single in the outfield to score two more runs. Tate Stearns added two more runs on a triple, and Nolan Rowe scored the fifth run by a single to left field.

NK’s sixth run came in the bottom of the fifth when Borque reached home on a passed ball. West Valley answered with three runs in the top of the fifth.

Afterward, NK, ranked third, faced a familiar playoff foe, the Lynden Lions, for a spot in the state semifinals. The Lions knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs once again, winning 8-4.

Lynden, ranked sixth, took an early 6-0 lead in the first two innings. However, the Vikings responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. NK looked to slim the lead in the fourth with a pair of runners on and one out, but couldn’t score.

Lynden attempted to score in the fifth by nearly loading the bases against Viking pitcher Marcus Kim. However, Kim escaped the jam to keep the game close. But Kim gave up two runs when Lynden loaded the bases in the top of the seventh.

With one out remaining in the season, Stearns hit a solo home run. The Vikings scored another run, but couldn’t ride the momentum to victory.

Viking Dawsyn Anderson hits the ball.

Viking Tate Stearns heads to home plate.