Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Batters up!

Sequim's Little League baseball and softball all-stars are in action this July, each team hoping for a chance to advance to their respective state and regional tournaments.

First up: districts.

Sequim's 9- and 10-year-old boys all-stars were the first to take the field in a 14-team bracket in Gig Harbor last week. The Sequim stars are still alive in their district tournament after a 10-4 loss to Bainbridge Island Blue on June 27. The Sequim squad has a chance to get back in district championship consideration when they play either South Kitsap South or Key Peninsula at 6 p.m. on July 2. Sequim needs seven consecutive wins for a district championship.

Sequim's other baseball all-stars, the 11- and 12-year-olds, open district tournament play July 6 at Art Mikelson Field in Port Orchard.

Sequim's junior girls softball all-stars already have a ticket to state after other area Little League teams (Gig Harbor, Bainbridge Island, Port Townsend) declined to create all-star squads. That means Sequim receives an automatic berth in the Washington state tourney, scheduled to start July 18 at Everest Park in Kirkland.

Sequim's other softball teams (major and 9- and 10-year-olds) both kick off their run to state on July 5 at Strawberry Park on Bainbridge Island. Sequim's majors squad is in a four-team bracket (Bainbridge, Jefferson County, North Kitsap) while the 9- and 10-year-olds are in a five-team bracket (Gig Harbor, Bainbridge, Jefferson County, North Kitsap).

Follow the Little League stars online with updates at sequimgazette.com and www.eteamz.com/WAD2/news/.