The Auburn Riverside softball team capped its 2009 campaign with a fourth-place finish at the state Class 4A championship softball tourney this past weekend in Tacoma.

The Ravens went 3-2 in the tourney, losing to eventual state champion Kelso and third-place finisher Walla Walla.

“I’m very happy with fourth place,” University of Washington-bound senior pitcher Amanda Fitzsimmons said. “There has been a lot of highlights, but probably the one that is biggest is winning fourth at state. It was such a team effort. It wasn’t just one person coming up big.”

“I’m really pleased with the finish,” coach Chris Leverenz said. “I think everyone is… I’m just really pleased with how the team got better as the season went on.”

In the first round the Ravens overpowered Lake Washington 5-0, feasting on four Viking fielding errors.

University of Washington-bound senior Amanda Fitzsimmons earned the win with 11 strikeouts, adding a double and an RBI.

Hannah Melick added a triple and an RBI, and Jamie Koeing chipped in with a double and an RBI.

In the second round, the Ravens slipped by Walla Walla 4-3 with a seventh-inning rally. Melick led the way offensively with 2-of-3 hitting with a triple and an RBI. Koenig added an RBI and Shannon Keith had two RBIs in the win.

In the next round Kelso, which would go on to win the 4A championship, defeated the Ravens 4-3.

Now in the consolation bracket, the Ravens unloaded on Mountain View in their fourth-round game, defeating the Thunder 4-0. Fitzsimmons earned the win, with Melick going 3-of-3 with three doubles and two runs. A rematch against Walla Walla in the battle for third place went the Blue Devils way, with Auburn Riverside falling 4-1.

Next season the team will have to do without the services of ace Fitzsimmons and catcher Roxanne Schwarz.

“It was actually harder (to say goodbye) than I expected,” Fitzsimmons said. “As a freshman, looking ahead, I didn’t think it would be as big of a deal as what it was. Looking at what we’ve overcome and accomplished, it was hard turning in my uniform number on Monday. I actually got a little teary.”

“She and Roxy have been our backbone, and it’s going to be tough without them,” Leverenz added.

Despite the loss of its battery, the Raven cupboard is far from bare. The pitcher/catcher duo are the only two seniors on a team dominated by sophomores.

“We know what we’re going into, so we’re ready. It’s going to be interesting though,” Leverenz said. “I’m just excited with the whole thing. We’re still going to go out there and compete.”