By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Bellevue beckons the West Seattle Major age 10-12 Little League baseball all-star team after it routed Renton by a 20-3 score in the District 7 championship Friday.

The Westsiders will journey to the Eastside city for the state tournament at the Hidden Valley complex, jumping into the fray on the second day of action with a 12 p.m. game Sunday, July 24.

"I think we could do fairly well at state," said West Seattle manager Corey Helmstetler. "I'm excited. I feel great. We're representing District 7 at state for the third year in a row."

Basically the same crew has now won the District 7 title in their respective age groups the past three years.

"It's the same players except for three new ones," said Helmstetler.

The West Seattle charter has also won the past three years at the Majors level, taking second two years ago as the current group finished fourth at age 9-10.

"This year we'll see what happens," said Helmstetler.

West Seattle cruised through this year's District 7 tournament that it hosted at its own Bar-S complex in four straight games, including Friday's win in the provisional championship that made Saturday's if-necessary championship unnecessary.

The Westsiders jumped out to a 4-0 lead with one run in the first and three in the second.

Jaxton Helmstetler doubled and came around on a pair of wild pitches in the first, then singled in one run in the second after Adam Johnson doubled in two. James Triol hit an infield single to start the rally and Liam Floyd walked ahead of Johnson's hit down the right-field line.

Max Namba of Renton then broke up a no-hitter by Matt Acarregui with a home run in the bottom of the third, but West Seattle followed with a seven-run top of the fourth.

Helmstetler hit a three-run home run into the back of a pickup truck beyond the fence in left as the highlight of the rally. Nick Hazelgrove also hit an RBI triple with Spencer Burgess contributing a single and Acarregui and Nolan Timmons both walking.

Renton then avoided the 10-run rule temporarily with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jesus Rodriguez hit a one-out single and Max Laurence launched a two-run home run to right.

But West Seattle knocked in nine runs in the top of the fifth before Dylan Savage wrapped up the win by holding Renton scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

Trace Taft doubled to lead off the fifth for the Westsiders and Acarregui doubled him home. After Burgess singled in Acarregui, Jack Velling stepped up to the plate and hit an RBI double.

Triol, Hazelgrove, Savage and Timmons all walked in order before Taft singled in two. Helmstetler singled in Taft after a passed ball moved him to second. Acarregui followed with a base hit to put runners on first and third, but no more scored.

Manager Helmstetler is assisted by coaches Geno Timmons and Rick Acarregui.

Players are Matt Acarregui, Blain Buchanan, Spencer Burgess, Liam Floyd, Will Godwin, Nick Hazelgrove, Jaxton Helmstetler, Adam Johnson, Dylan Savage, Trace Taft, Nolan Timmons, James Triol and Jack Velling.
The West Seattle league president is Noel Whorton.