By By GREG KATSKI
Staff Writer
Washington is sending three top-notch teams to Babe Ruth tournaments this weekend.
The Washington 15U baseball all-star team is competing in the 2009 ENC State Tournament in Bear Creek, while the Washington 12U softball all-star team is playing in the Southeast Regional tournament in Richmond, Va. and the 18U Chaos softball team is traveling to the Deep South for the Southeast Regional in Andalusia, Ala.
The 15U baseball team opens up play today with a 5 p.m. contest against District 2 representative Henderson-Vance. If the all-stars win, they play the winner of the Chatham County — District 7 game on Friday at 1 p.m. If they lose, the all-stars move to the loser’s bracket, where they face the loser of the Chatham County — District 7 matchup at 6:30 on Friday. The double-elimination state tournament carries through the weekend, with the championship game held on either Sunday or Monday depending on win — loss records.
The 15U all-star team wasn’t even sure it would make states after falling twice to New Bern in the championship round of the District 6 tournament.
“They were all down and upset about the games,” Washington manager Alan Swain said.
When Swain relayed the news to his all-stars that they received an invite, “their eyes just lit right back up,” he said.
The all-stars will be joined in the eight-team tournament by familiar foe New Bern, Greenville, Lumber River and Chatham County.
“The guys are really excited about it,” Swain said.
The 12U softball team starts off the Southeast Regional with a game against Marshall County, Tenn. at 10 a.m. today. If the all-stars win, they play WNC champion Madison at 4 p.m. If they lose, the all-stars will face the loser of the Altamonte, Fla. — Union County/New Kent, Va. game at noon on Friday.
All regional tournament games are being played at Dorsey Park in Richmond (Henrico), Va. The winner of the tournament, which is going on through Sunday, will advance to the 12U World Series in Wilson.
The 12U all-stars advanced to the regional tournament by taking second in the ENC State Babe Ruth tournament in Williamston last week.
The Washington 18U Chaos team opens Southeast Regional play Friday at 7 p.m. against Pitt County, the ENC state tournament champions.
The all-stars are joined by Williamston, which takes on West Ashley, S.C. at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
On Saturday, Washington faces West Ashley (SC) at 1 p.m., Skyline (Virginia) at 4 p.m. and Williamston at 7 p.m.
Williamston will take on Skyline (Va.) at 11:30 a.m., Pitt County at 2:30 p.m. and Washington at 7 p.m.
The No. 2 and No. 3 seeds meet at 9 a.m. Sunday, with the winner of that game battling the top seed at 11 a.m. for the championship.
Washington finished third and Williamston took second in the ENC State Babe Ruth tournament to advance to regionals.
The Washington 18U Chaos team, led by manager Betty Sikes and coaches Milo Arnold and Julie Mixon, is comprised of Amanda Daw, Kristi Wood, Brittany Moss, Samantha Barbour, Brandi Hardison, Jena Payne, Lauren Webb, Lily Ann Arnold, Casey Peaden, Whitney Lewis, Kristen Ayers and Shakeria Lomax.