Once the hot start cooled off, the Bonney Lake Panthers started to show signs of weakness.

But despite a long lull, all it took was a timely second-half goal to snap them out of their funk.

Brody Fitzsimmons scored a key goal in the 41st minute, helping Bonney Lake (18-4) take command in a 3-1 win over Hanford on Friday afternoon in a Class 3A state semifinal game at Sparks Stadium.

The Panthers will take on Shorecrest (16-3), a 3-2 winner over Bainbridge, in Saturday’s championship game at 2 p.m.

The Panthers opened the second half in spectacular fashion, as …

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SPOKANE – It wasn’t the kind of day Emerald Ridge High School expected to have at the state Class 4A fastpitch championships.

Coming into the tournament undefeated, the Jaguars had plans of challenging for a state title.

Instead, the team was sent packing early. Newport overcame a 6-1 deficit in the opening game to score a 10-9 victory.

In the consolation round, the team was one out away from a 2-1 victory only to see Tahoma’s Delany Nelson belt a three-run home run that turned into a 4-3 win for the Bears.

“We just didn’t execute the way we needed …

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With their superstars neutralized early on, the depth of the Thomas Jefferson High roster started to emerge.

When things finally opened up, the superstars finished the job.

Yes, these Raiders are a force to be reckoned with.

Thomas Jefferson took one step closer to earning its eighth Class 4A title in school history with a dominant 3-0 win over Snohomish on Friday night in the state semifinals at Sparks Stadium.

The Raiders will take on Union (16-2), a 2-1 winner over Roosevelt, for the 4A state championship at 4 p.m. Saturday.

“They believe in each other,” Thomas Jefferson coach Dave …

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PASCO – Auburn Mountainview High School’s baseball team is beginning to get this late-comeback thing down pat.

Taking advantage of three Kennewick errors in the sixth inning, Auburn Mountainview rallied for a 6-4 victory in the Class 3A state semifinals at Gesa Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Mason Cerillo’s push bunt and Joey Cassano’s two-run triple proved big blows for Auburn Mountainview in that inning as it erased a 3-1 deficit. Cassano’s hit ended the day for Kennewick starter Jarrod Molnaa, who never quite got comfortable in the zone but still carried a three-hitter through five innings.

The SPSL 3A champion’s …

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Greetings! Clouds again today, and hoping we are in the home stretch of the rainy weather. Lots of WIAA tournaments greatly affected by it – both in performances and schedules.

* This week, the TNT published its All-Area teams for baseball, fastpitch and boys’ soccer. Kentwood catcher Reese McGuire was the MVP for baseball, Emerald Ridge pitcher Meagan Hendrix was the player of the year for fastpitch and Jefferson forward Isidro Prado-Huerta got the MVP nod in boys’ soccer.

* Yours truly delved into a growing issue in track and field – why nobody likes the …

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4A tournaments at Columbia Basin Racquet Club, Hanford, Richland HS
3A tournaments at Tri-City Court club, Kamiakin High School
2A tournaments at Nordstrom Tennis Center, Seattle
1A/2B/1B tournaments at Yakima Tennis Center

Returning champions: Sammi Hampton, Skyview (4A girls singles), Mitch Stewart, Federal Way (4A boys singles), Nora Tan, Mercer Island (3A girls singles), Daniel Yu/Josh Rasmus, Washington (2A boys doubles), Teddy Grenley/Phillip Grenley, Charles Wright (1A/2B/1B boys doubles), Michelle Lui, Forest Ridge (1A/2B/1B girls singles).

4A skinny: Stewart is a University of Washington commit. The field better hope his legs are tired from running the boys’ …

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4A, 3A championships at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
2A, 1A championships at Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner

Tickets: Single passes – $9 for adults, $7 for students and senior citizens. Tournament passes – $15/$10.

* CLASS 4A
Snohomish (19-1): The Panthers won the Wesco North title and made it out of the first round of the state playoffs for the first time since 2006 – also the year they won their second 4A title. The Panthers work rate, plus their decisive edge in set pieces – defender Blake Crutchfield’s huge throw-ins set up lots of scoring chances – make them …

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4A, 3A championships at GESA Stadium, Pasco
2A championships at County Stadium, Yakima

Tickets: Single passes – $9 for adults, $7 for students and senior citizens. Tournament passes – $15/$10.

** CLASS 4A
Kentwood (21-5): Even after losing 10 players from last year’s state title-winning squad, the Conquerors are in the semifinals for the third time in the past four seasons. Great hitting lineup, including All-Area player of the year Reese McGuire at catcher.

South Kitsap (20-5): The Wolves last reached the semifinals 10 years ago – the same year they won the title. In just his first …

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