Mark your calendars, Kirkland: World class softball returns to Everest Park August 14-20.
This year's local host will be the undefeated Redmond team, having won the District 9 tournament on July 10 at Hartman Park in Redmond. The win secures their first-ever World Series appearance.
Last year's District 9 champion was the combined All Star players from three Bellevue Little Leagues. District 9 is the administrator of Little League Fastpitch softball on the Eastside.
The Girls' Junior Softball World Series is an international tournament for 13- and 14-year-old girls, featuring 10 teams from five countries. The United States has representation from five regions - East, South, Southwest, Central and West - plus the local host (Redmond).
National champions from Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific round out the worldwide roster.
Twelve umpires will be working the games, mostly from various parts of the United States. This year, however, two umpires will be imported, one from the Netherlands and one (fittingly, a woman) from Canada.
Last year, the U.S. Central team from North Bend, Indiana took home the trophy. The year before, the Asia Pacific team hailing from the Philippines defeated the Latin American team for the win.
The teams are comprised of 14 players, two coaches and one manager. Approximately $85,000, part of which is donated by sponsors, helps defray the teams' hotel bills, per diem for players' meals, and umpires' fees. Team parents finance their own way.
This being the seventh year that Kirkland is hosting, assistant tournament director Diane Toberman says "we would like to make sure we hit 10 years."
Off the field, one of the biggest perks for the girls is the opportunity for cultural exchange and friendship.
Toberman says, "The one thing that always amazes me is how the girls get along no matter what part of the world they come from. Language does not seem to stop them from communicating with each other."
Games are daily from August 14 -19. Championship game is August 20 at 4 p.m. Everest Park is located at 500 8th Street South. Information: www.jrsoftbal lworldseries.com.[[In-content Ad]]
