Little Leaguers advance to state

Three local Little League teams have won their district to advance to the state competitions in their respective divisions.

The 2008 Spokane Southwest Little League Majors All-Star team (ages 11-12) won the Washington District 13 All-Star Tournament held in Cheney. Southwest will represent Spokane at the Washington State Little League Tournament in Mill Creek, Wash., beginning Sunday. The team is managed by Dave Smith and coached by Brian Gosline.

In the district tournament, Spokane Southwest faced off against Spokane Southeast and won two of the three games for the District 13 title.

Spokane Southwest (ages 10-11) All-Star team also won its District 13 All-Star Tournament in Cheney. It’s the second year in a row that the Southwest 10- and 11-year-old team has won the district. It will represent Spokane at the State Tournament in Auburn, Wash. beginning Saturday. The team is managed by Keith Slater and coached by Mike Mickey.

In the District championship game, Spokane Southwest defeated the North Spokane All-Stars 8-6. Additionally, the Spokane Southeast 9- and 10-year-old All-Star team won its District 13 All-Star Tournament held at Woodridge Field in North Spokane. The team will represent Spokane at the State Tournament in Vancouver, Wash., beginning Saturday. The team is coached by Neil O’Keefe and Darren Young.

In the district tournament, Spokane Southeast outscored opponents 56 to 20 in a four-game sweep of the nine-team double elimination tournament. This is the first invitation to state for a Southeast team since the inception of the league in 2004.