The Juanita High School softball team has been a perennial post-season contender. In 2011 they won the state title and last year they beat cross-town rival Lake Washington for the district title.

This year is proving to be no different.

The Rebels showed their power and defense as they defeated Holy Names, 13-2, for the 4A Sea-King District title on Thursday at Lower Woodland Park in Seattle.

Juanita broke a three inning stalemate with a run in the third, but their offense broke loose during the fourth, scoring five runs to take a 6-0 lead.

The Cougars kept it close, scoring two runs during the bottom of the fourth.

Juanita hammered the ball during the sixth inning for five more runs to end the game early via the mercy rule.

The Rebels pounded out 18 hits during the game. Madison Hedlund accounted for two of those hits, including a home run and three RBI.

But the biggest weapon for Juanita was in the pitching circle, as Milly Kawabata shut down the Cougars. She threw six innings, giving up six hits, while striking out four and allowing no earned runs, despite two errors behind her in the field.

The game was the second for Kawabata, as she had shutout Bishop Blanchet to get to the title game.

The Rebels defeated Blanchet 3-0 as Kawabata struck out seven batters.

Juanita is now 19-6 on the season and finished the regular season 12-2.

The Rebels now move on to the state tournament to be held in Lacey, Wash. next week, where they will be a No. 1 seed.