By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

SALMON CREEK--West Seattle jumped into the driver's seat of the age 9-11 state Little League all-star baseball tournament with a 6-5 victory over Kirkland American on Wednesday.

The Westsiders will ride the winner's bracket final victory into the provisional championship at 10 a.m. Saturday in Salmon Creek and must be defeated in back-to-back games that day to miss out on the state title.

They will either have a rematch against Kirkland American or face another team coming back through the loser's bracket.

West Seattle came into the tournament as the District 7 champion.