By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

It will be a long road back for the West Seattle Major Little League baseball team, even if the drive remains short.

The squad of age 11-12 players fell into the loser's bracket of the Washington state tournament it is hosting on its own diamonds at the Bar-S complex with an 8-4 loss to Federal Way on Sunday afternoon.

West Seattle now must win five games in five days just to get to Saturday's championship action, then would have to beat its opponent twice.

So the only way the team can take the state title and advance to Western Regional action in San Bernardino, Calif. is to win seven games in a row.

The road through the loser's bracket begins with a 3 p.m. game Monday.

West Seattle had opened the tournament with a 21-8 victory over Camas on Saturday.