By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Vancouver, here we come.

Four straight wins for West Seattle paid off in a trip to the Fort Vancouver Little League complex for the state age 10-11 all-star Little League baseball tournament that opens Saturday, July 18.

The Westsiders capped off their District 7 tournament stay with an 18-6 victory over Seattle Central on Monday on the heels of victories over PacWest, South Highline National and Renton.

"It was a whirlwind tournament for us," said West Seattle manager Isaiah Brent, whose team also went to state at the age 9-10 level last year. "This team is poised and ready to do some damage. It's fun to coach them."
It was also the second year in a row that Brent's team faced Seattle Central in the District 7 final.
"Seattle is a really good team," Brent said. "They're definitely a league on the rise to watch out for for some time to come. They've got some good players coming up."

Seattle Central was looking for the first ever District 7 title and state tournament berth for its charter, but it was West Seattle that prevailed Monday.

Jack Leers gave the Westsiders the lead for good early, blasting a two-run home run to left center for a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first.

West Seattle then erupted for nine runs in the top of the third on seven hits, including doubles by James Triol and Leers, and appeared to be very much in control at 11-0.

But Seattle Central was not through yet, answering with six runs on three hits and three West Seattle errors in the bottom of the inning to make it close again at 11-6.

Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the fourth inning, before West Seattle scored seven in the top of the fifth.
Jaxton Helmstetler hit a two-run double to highlight that rally, before the Westsiders held off Seattle Central on no runs in the bottom of the inning to win it, 18-6, on a 10-run rule.

Aiden Waller hit 3-for-4 on singles for West Seattle, while Dylan Savage and Leers both hit 2-for-3.
Now West Seattle hopes for a better state showing than last year, when it had a short stay in the Eastern Washington heat in Richland.

"Our boys kind of melted last year," said Brent. "This year it will probably be hot, but not 110 degrees. I'd like to see this team perform against the best in the state. It could be some good baseball."
West Seattle will open state with a 2:30 p.m. game against the host District 4 team.

Assisting Brent as coaches are Steve Savage and Ted Godwin.

Players for West Seattle are Matt Acarreigui, Maddox Brent, Blain Buchanan, Will Godwin, Jaxton Helmstetler, Jack Leers, Jack Peterson, Dylan Savage, Milo Sorenson, Trace Taft, James Triol, Aiden Waller and Max Zerbato.

Seattle Central was managed by Tom Paine with Carroll Washington serving as coach.

Players were Ben Bennett, Yemoni Bradley-Howell, Quinn Chow, Aaron Herst, Nate Korahais, Kanye Kelley, Isaiah Mayfield-Prieto, Zac Meyer, Dylan Paine, Jamison Saxton, Malachi Washington and Malachi Wayman.