Mercer Island Little League Teams Win Several Division 9 Championships

Several Mercer Island Little League All-Star teams won their respective District 9 divisions last weekend and play in state competitions this weekend.

The Little League's 9/10, 10/11 and Junior Baseball all-stars and a combined softball all-star team of Mercer Island, Bellevue East and Bellevue Thunderbird took home their respective Division 9 Championship trophies.

The 9/10 All-Stars defeated Sammamish, 11-5, on July 11 and will face Spokane South in the first round of state competition July 16 in Redmond. The 10/11 All-Stars defeated Bellevue West, 4-3, on July 11 and will next face Sedro-Woolley at state on July 16 in Spokane. The Junior Little League All-Star team defeated Bellevue Thunderbird, 8-6, on July 9 and will face an as-yet unnamed team from District 12 (Yakima/Tri-Cities) on July 17 in Arlington.

And a softball Junior All-Star team made up of players from Bellevue and Mercer Island will play next at the Junior Softball World Series in Kirkland, Aug. 14-20, courtesy of an automatic bye as the district host. They defeated a Redmond/Eastlake team by a score of 1-0 on July 12 for the honor.

Islander Ken Moss, an assistant coach for the Junior All-Stars, said the team's achievement was notable because it's comprised of all first-time All-Stars, and so many different kids have had their moment to be the star of a game.

"The Mercer Island Little League Juniors program is helping to bridge the gap between traditional Little League and High School ball," he said. "The Boys and Girls Club and the Mercer Island Little League have been incredibly supportive at every step, giving island families the opportunity to play with a hometown team that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to join. The fact that we won the District and are heading to State in our second year as a program is a testament to the hard work the boys have put in, and the deep baseball tradition on the island." 

The MI Little League's Majors division team, which competes for a spot in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. next month, will play Redmond North tonight (July 14) at 6 p.m. at Hartman Park (Field #3) in Redmond. 

Mercer Island Little League is supported by the .