By Reporter Newspapers

The Kirkland National 9/10 softball team recently won the Little League State tournament in Spokane.

The team, based out of Big Finn Hill Park and comprised of girls from the Finn Hill, Juanita and Totem Lake neighborhoods, went 4-0 at state, beating LaCenter, Woodinville and Chinook (twice).

The team’s toughest game was their first, when they beat LaCenter 6-2 in extra innings.

The team was led by pitcher Lisa Nelson, who had 91 strike outs in 40 and 1/3 innings over eight games, allowing only 13 hits. Kirkland National outscored opponents 49-7 in the tournament.

The team beat Chinook 15-4 in the championship game, scoring six runs in the first two innings, and six more in the fifth. Nelson picked up the win, striking out 11, giving up only four hits and one run.