A pair of Federal Way National Little League all-star teams will start their respective state tournaments on Saturday, July 16.
The Federal Way 9- and 10-year-old all-star baseball team will open its 2011 Washington State Little League Tournament at noon at Hartman Park in Redmond after snagging the District 10 all-star title last month. National will take on the District 6 champions from Salmon Creek Little League in the Vancouver area.
The Federal Way National Junior League (13-14) all-star girls fastpitch softball team will open its state tournament against LaCenter Little League at 4 p.m. at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor Saturday. LaCenter won the District 6 championship. The tournament will run through July 21.
The Federal Way National 9/10 all-star team completed a huge comeback to win the district title at the Federal Way National Complex.
After losing to Bonney Lake/Sumner in the second round, National fought back through the consolation bracket, winning five games in a row, including two-straight over Kent in the championship round to advance to the state tournament. Federal Way beat Kent, 11-7, in the first title game Saturday and won the title with an 11-6 victory Sunday.
National also overcame a 9-4 deficit in their final at-bat during a 10-9 opening-round win over Auburn on June 16. Tate Wallat connected on a three-run, walk-off, two-out triple in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Federal Way National 9/10 All-Star Team includes Malachi Afework, Cole Bakker, Blake Beck, Nate Clow, Tommy Davis, Connor Ellingson, Zak Gregg, Gavin Knapp, Travis Miller, Brandon Niksich, Ben Ray, Spencer Sugg, Tate Wallat and Mark Wright.
The Junior League fastpitch team downed a combined team from Auburn and Kent, 8-4, in the championship game July 1 at Brannan Park in Auburn to earn a trip to the Washington State Tournament. Dani Ward threw a complete-game on the mound during the win over Auburn/Kent in the title game.
The Federal Way National Junior softball all-star team includes Aleah Adams, Ryann Lacey, Ann McGonigal, Bailey Nelson, Dani Ward, Mads Magruder, Kylie Miller, Meghan Miller, Lupe Havili, Julianna Loving, Morgan Vance and Emily Shires.