It was an early game and a tough victory for the Lake Washington High softball team.

At the 3A state tournament on May 24 at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey, the Kangs held on to defeat Everett, 3-2, in the 9 a.m. opener. The Kangs finished their day and time in the tourney with losses to Yelm (8-1) and Prairie (4-0) later that day.

The Everett victory was a nail-biter.

Up 3-2 with two outs and a runner on first in the top of the seventh inning, LW second baseman Claire Towey fielded a grounder and beat the runner to second for the force out to win the game. Elation ensued from the LW players in the middle of the diamond.

“I was a little nervous, but I knew my team would have my back and we were ready for anything,” Towey said. “I was like, ‘Man, I just gotta get this out.’ I just went for the nearest base, I guess. Me and my teammates were so happy. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”

LW pitcher Jane Wilson put the Kangs ahead with a two-run double with the bases loaded in the fifth inning to score Anna Fridell and Adelaide Sapirstein. Emma Rosendal — who had three hits against Yelm — scored on a hit to put the Kangs ahead 3-0 in the sixth inning.

“As soon as I saw the crack of the bat, I knew that was gonna change the game. It felt really good,” said Fridell, who had full confidence in Wilson at the plate.

Added Towey: “It was my first time at state, it was amazing. Jane, man, she’s a great hitter, she really helped us out there.”

Fridell felt the Kangs’ chemistry was at a premium and said the Everett win provided the biggest example of a team victory.

“We said before the game that we weren’t gonna play for ourselves, we were gonna play for each other and just pass the bat, pass the bat, that’s all we were gonna work on,” Fridell said. “And I think we really executed that. Whether it was a base hit, or bunt or an error on the other team, I think it all tied together just how we needed it to.”

* Juanita lost a pair of games at state, 10-5 to Mountain View and 9-3 to Bellevue.

Eden Radke homered twice against Mountain View and Sasha Mitchell and Kaci Gordon each had run-scoring singles.

Against Bellevue, Mitchell and Gordon had two singles each, Jordan Schroeder doubled and Mackenzie Burke, Rory Hutchinson and Abbie Reynolds provided run-scoring singles.

Lake Washington’s Claire Towey heads toward the celebration after making the final out in the Kangs’ win over Everett. Rachel Sapirstein stands behind Towey. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Juanita’s Jordan Schroeder en route to making a catch in the outfield against Mountain View. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo