South Kitsap fastpitch wrapped up its first Bridge Division title in five years last week.

But coach Kathy Ballew and her players still believe they have plenty to prove when they play at 3:30 p.m. today against Stadium for the Narrows League championship at Tacoma’s South End Recreation Area.

“It’s nice to be playing for the state championship,” Ballew said. “Winning the Bridge is good, but we’re not settling.”

The Wolves, who entered the week with a 13-2 record, are not playing for the ultimate title — or even a state berth — yet. But a win against Stadium (16-1) would give them the No. 1 seed out of the Narrows entering next week’s West Central District Tournament. South claims the league’s second spot if it loses.

Stadium won the previous game between the schools, 7-6, on April 12.

“I’m excited because we get to have our revenge,” South senior first baseman Alexis O’Dell said. “They were the first hard, hard team we’ve faced. We’ve grown so much stronger. I’m excited to see what the scoreboard’s going to look like after the game.”

A victory would put the Wolves in a good position to advance to state for the first time since 2003. Ballew, who has guided South for 17 seasons, won the school’s only state championship in 1995, but also presided over one of the program’s tougher stretches. The Wolves had a 37-36 record during the previous four years.

“It shouldn’t fizzle out, and I take blame for that,” she said. “It really should stay consistent if you do the right things.”

O’Dell, who is a captain along with catcher Bridjet Box and third baseman Meagan Ransier, said a significance difference is the team’s chemistry, which she said is the best during her three years on varsity.

“We’ve been together as a team,” she said. “Not one person can hit a home run and win. It takes consistency.”

Ballew agreed.

“They have to be pulling together and have each other’s backs,” she said. “Maybe we’ve been missing that the last few seasons.”

Ballew said that extends beyond just getting along in the dugout, though. She said the players work hard during practice — she noted the effort of several who have mastered multiple positions — and their confidence.

“Their attitude going in is that we’re going to win,” Ballew said. “Some others in recent years have been afraid to put it out there because they’re afraid to fail. They’re here to win.”

That has occurred for the most part, with the exception of Stadium and Central Kitsap, which beat South 9-7 on April 21.

Junior pitcher Emily Cunningham was critical of the team’s play after the game, saying they had a “really big head.” Entering this week, the Wolves had five consecutive wins.

“They see (how important it is) to show up, 100 percent, every day,” Ballew said.

South finished just one win away from advancing to state a year ago, but Ballew said she likes the makeup of this group much more.

“That was a totally different team,” she said. “We didn’t show up then. That’s not what’s going to happen this year.”

She cited her team’s performances against Wilson as an example. The Rams won eight consecutive division titles before the Wolves beat them twice this season.

“They’ve been in some close games and big games, so they kind of know what it’s like,” Ballew said. “It gave them confidence knowing they can beat good teams.”

And Ballew, a 1984 South graduate, hopes to carry that momentum through the rest of the year — and beyond.

“I’m hoping for it to be a tradition — South Kitsap is the one to beat,” she said. “That’s the way it used to be. This is the tradition and feeling we want to get back.”