A dozen state champions and the host team representing Central Vancouver Little League will play in the Junior League Baseball Western Region Tournament beginning on Wednesday. Junior League is the Little League division for ages 13-14.
The tournament continues through Aug. 10 at Hudson’s Bay High School’s Propstra Stadium. The winner of this tournament advances to the Junior League World Series, which takes place Aug. 14-21 in Taylor, Mich.
With 13 teams in this tournament, the format has changed from the traditional round-robin pools to advance teams to semifinals. This year, each team will play two games, after which teams will be seeded. The top two seeds will get byes into the quarterfinals. The bottom three teams will be eliminated.
The elimination phase will begin on Sunday and continue through the championship game on Aug. 10.
The host team, mostly players from the Central Vancouver and Fort Vancouver Little League boundaries, did not have any competition for the District 4 championship. Its two qualification games are at 5 p.m. Thursday against Cedar City, Utah, and at 5 p.m. Saturday against Walker River Little League from Yerington, Nevada.
This is the fifth consecutive year that Vancouver has hosted the Junior League Western Region Tournament.
Admission for spectators costs $7 per day. A $30 family pass is available for admission to the entire tournament.
Summer running series continues
Jesse McChesney of Vancouver won the Round Lake 5K Run on July 27 with a time of 16 minutes and 40 seconds.
Part of the Clark County Running Club’s series of Wednesday runs, a total of 117 runners recorded official times from this second 3.1-mile race on the Round Lake course.
Katarina Mueller, 24, was the first female finisher. She was 14th overall in 22:26. Jamie Ferris, 18, the second-place female, was two seconds behind Mueller.
The summer series shifts to Leverich Park for the next two Wednesdays. The runs start at 7 p.m., with registration open at 6:30. Cost is $2.
Run to help homeless
The Race for the Homeless will offer 5- and 10-kilometer courses for runners on Saturday in Vancouver.
The runs begin at 8 a.m. The start and finish line is the O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St.
The event, which includes a 5-kilometer walk, benefits Open House Ministries and is staged by New Heights Church. Cost to run or walk is $20. Registration opens at 7 a.m. Saturday. Learn more at newheight.org.
Swim club reunion set
Vancouver Swim Club will celebrate its 50th year with a reunion on Aug. 19. The event, open to anyone with a connection to the club, will begin with an open swim at Marshall Community Center from 3 to 5 p.m.
A social gathering will follow from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Luepke Center next door to the pool. The club will supply burgers, hot dogs and cold drinks. Potluck dishes are also welcome.
To learn more, visit vancouverswimclub.com or send email to Vicki Gordon swimcoachv@gmail.com.
Special Olympics fundraiser set
Clark County Special Olympics Washington will hold a softball tournament on Sunday to raise money and awareness for its programs.
Teams representing agencies that work with Clark County residents who have intellectual disabilities will play in the first Softball Cup Tournament at the Vancouver Girls Softball Association Complex, 800 N.E. 117th St.
The coed tournament is scheduled to run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
COMMUNITY SPORTS NEWS is published each Tuesday. Submit items by sending email to paul.danzer@columbian.com or call 360-735-4521.
