Region's best youth teams hit Whitefish diamond

WHITEFISH — Seven teams from five states will vie for a spot in the Cal Ripken World Series when the 12U Major70 Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament kicks off today at Memorial Field.

Whitefish will field a host squad and is guaranteed at least four pool play games at the tournament. The local squad is in the same pool as Kennewick, the champions from Southern Washington; West Linn, the Northern Oregon champs; Eastern Montana champion Glendive; and Northern Washington champ Lynden. In the other pool is Willamette Valley, the Southern Oregon champs; Wyoming champion Douglas; Idaho champion Meridian; North Valley, the Western Montana champion out of Stevensville; and Nampa (Idaho), which earned the final invite.

Whitefish starts the tournament tonight in the final game of the day at 7 p.m. against the Kennewick Nationals. Whitefish plays Lynden on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., Glendive on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and West Linn at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The top two finishers from pool play will advance to the championship bracket on Sunday, playing two single-elimination games to determine the regional champion and earn a bid to the World Series on Aug. 3-10 in Branson, Missouri. The Pacific Northwest is one of 16 regions that earn a spot from the U.S. along with eight international teams.

Cal Ripken baseball is competed by the three youngest age-groups of the Babe Ruth baseball leagues. The Major70 division gets its name from the player competing on 70-foot basepaths, which is to help the pre-teen players to get used to regulation 90-foot basepaths in the higher age groups.