TACOMA, Wash. — Soundview Little League from Tacoma secured a victory in its first-ever Little League World Series appearance, defeating Phenix City, Ala., in seven innings.
The win marks a historic milestone for the all-volunteer community league as it represents Tacoma on the big stage.
Katie Mattran serves as a volunteer coach for Soundview Little League.
She and other parents and players in the league gather at Buffalo Wild Wings in Tacoma to watch the game. She noted the significance of the team reaching the tournament for the local organization.
“Soundview has been around for a really long time,” Mattran said. “It’s a huge community league. All volunteer-led. To see Tacoma on a national stage, international stage…would be the tops!”
Local youth players who have competed with or against members of the roster watched the game. Landon Cairns, a player who has played against some of the roster members, recognized their potential early.
“When I saw people like Frankie, Anthony, Smittie, Casen, I knew they were going to make it up there,” Cairns said. He noted that the team’s success has encouraged other local players to practice more, adding, “They must be inspiring other people to go practice and play hard.”
It has been 44 years since a team from Washington won the championship. Kirkland earned the title in 1982 after defeating Taiwan.
Other teams from the state have made notable tournament runs in recent years, including a Seattle squad that reached the semifinals in 2023, a Sammamish team in 2013 and a Mill Creek team in 2008.
Supporters remain confident in the team’s perseverance as tournament play continues. Mattran highlighted the spirit of the team and city.
“Tacoma is grit city,” Mattran said. “Win or lose, they’re going to keep playing. They’re going to go deep in this tournament. They’re going to make us proud. I know they will.”
Soundview Little League will next play the team from the Southwest region this Friday at noon.
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