A trip to the Junior League Baseball World Series is the prize for the champion of a regional baseball tournament that begins on Tuesday in Vancouver.
Ten state champions and the host team from East County Little League of Washougal will play in the Junior League Baseball Western Regional, which runs through Aug. 5 at Clark College’s Kindsfather Field.
Junior League is the Little League division for players ages 13-14.
The first game is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday between Hawaii champion Ewa Beach and Idaho champion Sand Point. The opening ceremony is at noon Tuesday.
Host team East County Little League plays its first game at 5 p.m. against Oregon champion West Salem.
East County earned the host spot by winning the championship of Washington District 4. This is the first time any team from the Washougal-area Little League has participated in a regional tournament, according to District 4 administrator Mike Ray.
Each team will play four games during the round-robin phase of the tournament. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals on Aug. 4. The championship game is at 5 p.m. on Aug. 5. The winner of this tournament goes to the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Mich.
Tickets cost $7 per day or $30 for a family pass good for all 26 tournament games.
Beginning on Wednesday, games are scheduled at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily through Saturday.
The Washington champion is PacWest Little League of Burien.
Other state champions participating in the tournament are: Gasteneau Channel of Juneau, Alaska; Nagales, Arizona; Snow Canyon of Santa Clara, Utah; Sparks Centennial of Nevada; Pleasanton (Northern California) and Manhattan/Hermosa Beach (Southern California).
A team from Rio Rico, Ariz., won this tournament in Vancouver last summer.
