Former PHS Softball Star, WWU Punch Ticket to World Series

Former Peninsula Seahawks standout pitcher Alli Kimball (class of 2023) helped lead the Western Washington University softball team to its second straight appearance in the NCAA Division II College World Series, held May 22–28 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Vikings earned the West Regional title to advance and claimed their second consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship.

WWU secured the GNAC title with an 8-7 win over Simon Fraser May 3.

Kimball, now a sophomore at WWU, earned her second win of the tournament in the championship game, allowing just one unearned run on six hits with a strikeout and no walks. She was one of six Vikings named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team and earned second-team All-GNAC honors for her regular-season performance.

Kimball holds a 16-4 record this season, second only to teammate Kaina Kong (13-0), as the Vikings continued their postseason run (45-11 as of May 17). 

The No. 4-seeded WWU swept top-seeded Cal State East Bay in the West Regional and then defeated Cal State San Marcos in a best-of-three Super Regional series May 15-16 to earn a return trip to nationals. Results from the World Series were not available at press time. (See keypennews.org for updates.)

Kimball helped WWU finish as national runners-up last season at the NCAA DII Championship in Florida, posting a 24-4 record as a freshman. With 30 career wins, she’s already tied for sixth in program history. In high school, Kimball was the 2023 Scorebook Live 3A Pitcher of the Year, a three-time South Sound Conference Pitcher of the Year. She led the Seahawks to a 3A state title her senior year, finishing with a 44-6 high school record, 599 strikeouts, and five no-hitters.