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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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Junior baseball tournament comes to Propstra

Arizona team brings big-game experience

By , Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter
Published:

? What: Junior League Baseball Western Regional.

? Who: 11 state champion teams of players ages 13 and 14.

? When: Today through Aug. 12.

? Where: Propstra Stadium at Hudson’s Bay High School.

? Cost: $7 per day or $30 for a family (up to five people).

? At stake: Winner advances to the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Mich.

The 11 baseball teams at Propstra Stadium for the Junior League Baseball Western Regional Tournament have won big games just to get to Vancouver.

But when it comes to big-game experience, the team from Nogales National Little League in Arizona has an impressive resume. Nine members of the team from the town on the Arizona border with Mexico played on a team that won Little League’s Intermediate Division World Series a year ago. Nogales beat a team from Puerto Rico 11-4 in that nationally-televised championship game.

“They know what they need to do to get to the big show,” Nogales manager German Fajardo said. “They look pretty solid.”

Play in the Western Regional — in the Little League division for players ages 13-14 — begins today and concludes with a championship game on Aug. 12. The winner of this tournament advances to the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Mich.

? What: Junior League Baseball Western Regional.

? Who: 11 state champion teams of players ages 13 and 14.

? When: Today through Aug. 12.

? Where: Propstra Stadium at Hudson's Bay High School.

? Cost: $7 per day or $30 for a family (up to five people).

? At stake: Winner advances to the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Mich.

One representative missing this year is a local entry. To make room for a 12th state champion from Wyoming, local Little League District 4 opted not to enter its champion in the regional. It is a decision tournament Mike Ray now regrets after Wyoming did not send a team to this tournament. District 4 champion East County had already begun state tournament play when Wyoming pulled out, so could not be entered in the regional as a host team.

East County lost its second game at state to eventual champion Selah and was eliminated one game before earning a championship-round rematch with Selah.

Nogales manager Fajardo — an assistant coach during last season’s World Series run — said his team had a challenging 13-team Arizona state tournament. Though Nogales went unbeaten, they twice had to rally from behind, he said.

Fajardo also said having the Intermediate Division — with 70-foot base paths and 50 feet from the pitching mound to the plate — helped his players develop their skills while they grew into players who can be comfortable on full-sized diamonds.

“For me, they are starting to dominate this (full-size) field,” he said.

This is the fourth year that the Junior League Baseball Western Regional has been played in Vancouver. It returns to Propstra Stadium after one year at Clark College’s Kindsfather Field.

Ray raved about the condition of Propstra Stadium’s Curt Daniels Field this summer, and said the Vancouver Public Schools’ facility at Hudson’s Bay High School provides a great stage for a championship event.

“We’re trying to create a little more theater and excitement within the community,” Ray said.

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Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter