Sisters Hall, Bumbalough team up to coach Klahowya softball

Even before Meika Hall concluded her collegiate softball playing career at Sterling College in Kansas, she made it a goal of returning to coach the sport at Klahowya, her alma mater.

Now in her fifth season as Klahowya's head coach, Hall and the Eagles head into Friday's Class 1A West Central District tournament with a chance to book a trip to state for the second time in three seasons. With two state berths available to the four teams in the field, No. 2 Klahowya (15-5) opens against No. 3 Seattle Christian at the RAC in Lacey at 6 p.m.

After Klahowya knocked off Seattle Christian at home last week to conclude the regular season, Hall entertained a question: Does she feel more pressure to win at Klahowya based on the fact that she played for the Eagles?

Hall said pressure isn't the right word.

"I think it's motivation," she said. "For me, having gone through the program here and having three different coaches my four years, I wanted to change the trajectory of that. If we could just have consistency, there is enough talent here where we could do something."

Joining Hall on staff is one of the most talented players to come through Klahowya in recent memory: Amber Bumbalough, her sister. Bumbalough was a two-time Olympic League 1A MVP before playing at Northern Illinois University.

"We definitely balance each other out," Hall said.

One part of the game that both sister stress as coaches has nothing to do with their players' ability to pitch, hit the ball or play solid defense. It's about having fun and prioritizing mental health.

"I don't ever want these girls to relive situations that I've been put in with coaches that beat you up with their words," said Bumbalough, who also coaches the school's middle school program. "I'm here to guide you and I'm here to support you, and not, 'You're doing this wrong, you're doing this wrong.'"

As former Klahowya players, Hall and Bumbalough feel added responsibility to help protect and nurture their own.

"We were those athletes," Hall said. "We push and we preach and we encourage failures. Because on the other side of failure is greatness."

"It's not just softball, we're teaching you life skills too," added Bumbalough. "We'll push you out of your comfort zone and how are you going to respond."

The sisters are eager to see where the team's postseason run leads over the next week or two. When the Eagles went 14-5 and qualified for state in 2022, the team only featured one senior.

"It was great that we made it there," Hall said. "It fired me up more because my team was young."

There are six seniors on this year's squad, which is supported by a number of talented underclassman, including sophomores McKenna Sullivan, Bailey O'Brien, Shyanne Kilmer and junior Ella Bottalico.

The team fell short of reaching state in 2023 when only one 1A berth was available out of district play. With a second state berth up for grabs this year, Klahowya isn't facing the prospect of likely having to knock off No. 1 Cascade Christian, the Nisqually League champion, in district play.

"It takes the pressure off for sure," Hall said. "Go have fun."

No matter how the playoffs unfold, it appears the Eagles won't have to worry about a change in coaching staff for a while. When asked if they plan to stick around Klahowya for the long haul, both Hall and Bumbalough answered simultaneously: "Oh, yeah."

Here's how the district playoff schedule shakes out for the rest of West Sound:

In the 4A West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament at the Kent Service Ballfields on Friday, No. 12 South Kitsap (12-8) takes on No. 5 Tahoma at 3 p.m. A win would send the Wolves the quarterfinals against the winner of No. 4 Skyview and No. 13 Puyallup at 5:30 p.m. A loss would put South Kitsap in the consolation bracket, where they'd play an the loser of Skyview/Puyallup at 5:30 p.m. The 16-team tournament is double elimination and the top-seven teams advance to state.

In the 3A West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament, Central Kitsap (6-14) was scheduled to open play against No. 1 Timberline at 3 p.m. Thursday. The 16-team tournament is double elimination and the top-seven teams advance to state.

Six Olympic League teams qualified for the 2A West Central/Sea-King Bi-District tournament, which begins Friday at the RAC. First-round games include No. 1 Port Angeles against No. 8 Highline, No. 4 North Kitsap against No. 5 Fife, No. 7 Kingston against No. 2 Franklin Pierce, and No. 6 Olympic against No. 3 Sammamish. All those contests start at noon and winners secure state berths. Loser-out games starting at 10 a.m. are No. 13 Bremerton against No. 12 Evergreen (Seattle) and No. 14 North Mason against No. 11 Orting. The 16-team tournament is double elimination and the top-six teams advance to state.

Trio of North Kitsap players sign for college

North Kitsap softball players Hannah Richards, Allison Dvorak and Cerenity Fake attended a college signing ceremony at the high school Friday. All three seniors returned as starters this spring after helping lead the Vikings to the 2A state title last year.

Richards will attend Dominican University in Illinois, Dvorak will attend Macalester College in Minnesota and Fake will attend Lower Columbia College in Longview.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Sisters Hall, Bumbalough team up to coach Klahowya softball