Federal Way Gray wins district title

By CASEY OLSON

Sports editor

This time the gray got the best of the blue — unlike the Civil War. In the championship game of the District 2 American Junior Legion Tournament, Federal Way Gray downed Federal Way Blue, 10-8. The tournament was held at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue last weekend.

Both teams now advance to the Washington State American Junior Legion Tournament, which kicks off today and runs through Thursday in Anacortes.

It was Federal Way Gray’s second victory of the season over Blue, who won the regular season title in the 12-team league. Gray finished second.

The victory was sweet for Gray, which includes players from Decatur and one from Thomas Jefferson. Federal Way Blue is made up of of Federal Way High School players, who have been pretty dominant during the school year, as well as in the past summer seasons.

“It was quite an exciting game,” said Kathy Ristine, the Federal Way Legion public relations manager.

Kevin Gibb’s three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning proved to be the winning hit for Gray. Gibb connected with one out and also took home the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

Aaron Borth picked up the win on the mound for Gray. Brian Edgmon made a big diving catch in right field to preserve the two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning and Ross Humes earned the save on the mound by shutting down Federal Way Blue in the ninth.

Blue’s offense was lead by Nick Harteau. The Federal Way High School junior-to-be hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning to give Blue the early lead.

Federal Way Gray is coached by Chris Hunke and Matt Ristine and includes Borth, Edgmon, Warren Faber, B.A. Garner, Gibb, Humes, Barret Johnson, Kyle Tait, Reese Keen and Matt Fink.

The Federal Way Senior American Legion team ended its season with a pair of losses at the district tournament. The Bellevue-based Lakeside Recovery dropped Federal Way into the loser’s bracket with a 14-2 thrashing in their opening game and Woodinville Tully’s eliminated Federal Way with a 10-8 win.

Federal Way could only muster three hits against Lakeside’s Koji Pupo, while giving up 15. Lakeside scored six runs in the second and five more in the third to put the game out of reach. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Against Woodinville, Federal Way tallied five runs in the bottom of the seventh, but gave up four in the top of the inning. Shea McFeely, who is headed to Oregon State University next year, was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs for Federal Way.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com

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