POULSBO — All four North Kitsap Babe Ruth teams have a shot at winning the state title.

Following last week’s Washington State District 4 tournaments, NK’s 13-, 14-, 15- and 16-year-old All-Star teams have earned berths to their respective state tournaments, which will begin next week.

Last weekend, North Kitsap’s 13-year-old All Stars traveled to Sequim for two days of district action and came away with confidence after two solid wins. The NK 13’s beat Port Angeles Saturday by a score of 8-3; then Sunday, NK walloped Sequim by a six-inning final score of 13-1.

The wins come in the form of a foundation for the postseason team, said team manager Jeff Reitan.

“It was a good coming together for them all,” he said. “For their first real tourney they’ve played as a team, they did very well.”

After initially forming as a team and beginning practice in early June, the NK 13’s picked up a tournament title in Bremerton June 24. But the District 4 tourney in Sequim was the first official contest of the Babe Ruth postseason and along with the pressure of the first game came a bit of nervous energy which propelled the NK team, Reitan said.

Over the course of the two-game weekend, the NK 13’s lashed out 21 hits – 13 of which came Sunday. On Saturday, against Port Angeles, the NK offense only accrued five hits, however, its defense stood solid, holding PA scoreless through the first five innings. In the third, North’s bats and base running aligned, scoring a three-run burst to take their first lead of the game. Then in the bottom of the fifth inning, NK’s offense rapped out five runs, taking advantage of its five total hits on the game with an eight-run lead.

“I’m an avidly offensive minded person that believes good hitting can always keep you in the game,” Reitan said. “You go out there flat, anyone can beat you.”

On the defensive side of things, NK was impenetrable. Despite PA out-hitting NK by a count of 8-5, North’s D shored up enough plays to keep runners stranded on base.

Then in the second game against Sequim, NK wasn’t even in the mood for base runners. The pitching combination of TJ Reitan and Alex Smith allowed just three Sequim hits, holding them scoreless through the first five innings.

At the plate, North Kitsap’s bats methodically compounded their lead each inning, until the 10-run rule was initiated at 13-1 in the sixth.

From both games on the weekend, NK’s leading hitters were Smith who hit 4 for 9 and Reitan who batted 4 for 6. Coach Reitan said the team’s offensive attack was well spread across the lineup with big plays coming from different kids at different times.

“All together it’s just been a total team effort and we’re really looking forward to the challenge of the state tournament,” coach Reitan said. “They just have to keep their head in the game, focus, and get it done.”

NK’s 13’s will be looking to “get it done” starting at 4 p.m. July 12 at the state tourney in Moses Lake. Teams will play four games in round robin pool play, then the top teams of that competition will battle for the title.