North Kitsap’s Little Leaguers are hitting mid-stride today as the Washington state District 2 Little League tournaments transform Bainbridge Island into softball city and South Kitsap into baseball county.
Passion, excitement and hope kicked off the tournaments spanning all age divisions June 30, but as the brackets begin to thin out, sorrow and disappointment will undoubtedly appear as there can only be one champion. The top team in each baseball division earn clearance into their respective state tournaments. Likewise, the younger softball divisions, only the champion teams will be granted berths to state.
In the spirit of Little League, each player who steps on the field is already a winner, but to follow the most updated team winners and losers for each division, visit the District 2 Web site at http://eteamz.active.com/WAD2/ and click on news.
Below is a quick recap of which North Kitsap teams are moving on and which are going home as district tournaments continue, scheduled to wrap up early next week.
9- and 10-year-old
baseball in Port Orchard
North Kitsap’s 9- and 10-year-old American All-Stars came out of the weekend still standing in the winners’ bracket. After beating their league mates, NK National, by a score of 6-4 in the first round Friday, NK American beat the combined East/South Jefferson squad 12-3 Saturday.
NK American played Bainbridge Island National for rights to the winners’ bracket Monday, but results were unavailable at press time.
NK National will be matching up in the losers’ bracket tonight at 5 p.m. on Art Mikkelson Field, fighting for life in the double elimination tournament.
10- and 11-year-old
baseball in Ollala
The 10- and 11-year-old NK American All-Stars are also still standing in the winners’ bracket after beating the NK National team 11-5 June 30. The NK American All-Stars then beat South Kitsap Eastern 4-1 to advance in the winners’ bracket, set to match up with Key Peninsula at 3:30 p.m. July 7 on Field No. 2 of the Virgil Stacey Memorial Complex.
The NK National team was eliminated from the tournament by Bainbridge Island American 14-4 Sunday.
The district championship game is set for 6 p.m. July 11.
9- and 10-year-old softball on Bainbridge Island
The host Bainbridge Island All-Stars blasted the opening rounds of the three team 9- and-10 year-old softball bracket, blanking Sequim 12-0 Saturday before brutalizing North Kitsap 23-5 Sunday.
Bainbridge is awaiting the winner of NK and Sequim which will be decided beginning at 3 p.m. July 8 on Field No. 1 of Strawberry Park on Bainbridge Island.
The championship game of the district tourney is set for 3 p.m. July 9.
10- and 11-year-old softball on Bainbridge Island
The North Kitsap and East/South Jefferson/Port Townsend All-Stars bombarded Strawberry Park Saturday with a slugfest that ended in Jefferson/Port Townsend favor by a count of 22-12.
Then, Sunday, in the championship round of the two team bracket, Jefferson/Port Townsend blanked NK 12-0 to take the cake and the road to state which will be July 21-27 in Poulsbo.
Majors baseball in Ollala
Both North Kitsap’s American and National teams suffered losses in the first round of the tourney June 30. The American squad lost to East/South Jefferson 9-0 while the NK Nationals lost 14-1 to Gig Harbor American.
The NK National team went on to be dealt elimination in the losers’ bracket by SK Southern which triumphed with a 14-2 win.
NK American fought for continuation Monday against SK Eastern, but results were unavailable at press time.
