A DeSales, Dayton double dip: Walla Walla area spring sports team learn state first-round matchups

Late May could be seen by many as the most wonderful time of the year for spring sports fanatics.

Especially if you support DeSales Catholic or Dayton.

Both schools will be represented in the Class 1B state softball and baseball championships this week.

The two-time defending state champion Irish softball team, seeded No. 4 in the tournament bracket, will face either Wahkiakum or Wilbur-Creston-Keller in the quarterfinals on Friday at 1 p.m.

Dayton plays Ocosta in a loser-out game on Thursday at 3 p.m. The winner will oppose top-seeded Liberty Christian at 1 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals.

All of the action is scheduled for Yakima's Gateway Sports Complex.

DeSales, last year's Class 1B baseball runner-up, travels to Quilcene on Tuesday. The winner will earn the right to take on Almira-Coulee-Hartline in a loser-out quarterfinal on Saturday.

Dayton, in the meantime, will host either Garfield-Palouse or Oroville on Saturday for a quarterfinal contest.

College Place, the District 5 and South Central Athletic Conference regular-season softball champion, plays its first game in the Class 1A state tournament at Columbia Playfields in Richland on Friday at 1 p.m. against Naches Valley or Elma.

"We are obviously really thrilled to be a top-four seed and, with that, have a first-round bye," Hawks coach Corey Davis said. "Any time you are rewarded with something like that, it's a sign of the season you've had and the respect that you've earned throughout the state.

"Elma, being the five seed, is obviously the favorite in that game, but either one will be a really tough opponent," Davis said.

Walla Walla High School's boys soccer team, which finished second in the District 6 tournament, hosts North Thurston on Tuesday at Blue Devil Stadium for a Class 3A state playoff match.

"We're honored to host the opening round of the state tournament at our outstanding new stadium," Wa-Hi coach Victor Saldaña said. "It's a special opportunity to represent Walla Walla on this stage, compete in front of our community, and uphold the standard this program has worked hard to build."

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