Explosion, Thunder win softball state titles

The USA Explosion 16A-Richards team won the ASA 16A state championship in Yakima, finishing the weekend tournament with a 5-0 record. The Tri-City-based Explosion, coached by former Columbia Basin College softball coach Kelly Richards, beat Montesano Bulldogs 99 8-0 in Sunday's title game.

The Tri-City Thunder-Bodnar squad walloped the Bellingham Bash 22-8 to win the ASA 16B state title Sunday in Selah. The Thunder suffered their first loss of the double-elimination tournament when they fell to the Bash 12-10 in the championship round, forcing a second and deciding game.

▪ The Kennewick American 9U Cal Ripken team won the state championship in Lacey on Saturday by beating Black Hills 13-3 to finish with a perfect 5-0 tournament record. The team will head to Meridian, Idaho for regionals on July 21 to face other champs from around the northwest.

▪ The Pasco National Little League 12-year-old All-Star team defeated Benton City 7-6 on Monday to stay undefeated in the District 12 tournament. Landon Schroeder went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer to lead the PNLL offense.

Pasco National will next play Friday in the district championship game.

▪ The Richland National Little League 12-year-old All-Stars pitched their third shutout of the district tournament Monday in a 7-0 win over Selah at the Pasco National Little League Complex.

RNLL will face either West Valley or Upper Valley at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 8:22 PM with the headline "Explosion, Thunder win softball state titles."