Hazel Dell Metro won the Southern Washington Babe Ruth 13-15 State Tournament on Sunday, beating Camas-Washougal 1-0 to clinch the title.
Both teams, along with Kelso, advance to play in the Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament, which takes place July 26-31 at Louis Bloch Park in Camas.
Pinch-runner Eastyn Culp scored the only run for HDM on Sunday, scoring from second base on a close play at the plate.
Metro pitcher Sam Lauderdale scattered two hits and struck out 10 in the win.
The Southern Washington state tournament was held at W.F. West High School in Chehalis.
Five members of this Hazel Dell Metro team were on the team that last summer placed third at the Babe Ruth World Series for 14-year-olds. They are Lauderdale, Cole Sherertz, Derek Mettler, Jasper Rank and Jackson Day.
The regional tournament in Camas will feature four days of pool play with the semifinals and championship game scheduled for July 31. The winner of that tournament advances to the Babe Ruth World Series.
14-year-old Babe Ruth — Camas-Washougal Babe Ruth opens play on Wednesday at the Southern Washington Babe Ruth State Tournament for 14-year-olds with two round-robin games. The tournament runs through Sunday in Kennewick.
Little League state tournaments
Teams representing Evergreen and Salmon Creek Little Leagues begin play on Saturday at the baseball state tournament for the ages 9-10 in Lynnwood.
The Junior League baseball state tournament for ages 13-14 begins on Sunday at Glenwood Little League in Vancouver. Lewis River is in that tournament.
In the Senior League baseball state tournament for ages 15-16, Evergreen lost in the championship game on July 9 in Port Orchard.
The Little League Baseball state tournament for ages 10-12 takes place July 23 through Aug. 2 in Bellevue. Salmon Creek has qualified. The District 4 tournament is underway this week at Evergreen Little League.
The Little League Softball state tournament is underway this week at Medical Lake. Glenwood and Cascade have teams there.
The 10-11 softball state tournament continues through Wednesday at Luke Jensen Sports Park in Vancouver.
The 9-10 softball state tournament begins Saturday in Chehalis. Glenwood and Camas have qualified for that tournament.
In Junior League softball, Columbia went 4-2 and finished second at the state tournament.
