QUILCENE — Finally, the Quilcene softball team gets someone besides the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors in the first round.

Instead, the Rangers will face the defending state champions.

This year’s Class 1B state tournament brackets were announced Monday by the WIAA. Quilcene opens against Liberty Christian on Friday. The Patriots won the state title in 2015. The Rangers placed third.

Quilcene is making its sixth straight state appearance. This is the first time since 2011 that the Rangers aren’t starting state against Almira/Coulee-Hartline.

It hasn’t gone well against the Warriors, as Quilcene lost all four first-round matchups. The Rangers, though, did close the gap last year, falling by only one run, 3-2.

The earliest Quilcene and Almira/Coulee-Hartline could meet at this year’s tournament is Saturday’s championship game.

BOYS TENNIS

Pederson learns first state foe

PORT ANGELES — Now that the baseball season is over, Port Angeles senior Janson Pederson needs to trade his bat for a racket.

Pederson, the only North Olympic Peninsula player to make it at tennis state tournament, will open the Class 2A singles tournament Friday against Ty Gentry of Tumwater.

The double-elimination 2A championship tournament is Friday and Saturday at Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle.

Pederson, who helped the Roughriders baseball teams advance to state, is making his second consecutive state appearance.