The Black Sox Baseball Club, a 15U Mickey Mantle team consisting of players from eight different high schools — including Eastside Catholic, Eastlake, Issaquah and Skyline — has advanced to the 15U Mantle World Series Aug. 4-9 in Tulsa, Okla.

The Black Sox clinched their national tournament bid by winning 15U Cascade Mickey Mantle State Tournament on July 22 at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

They defeated Premier Tigers, 8-3, to take the state title. Winning pitcher Konrads Leitis (Eastlake) threw a complete game holding the Tigers to four hits and one walk.

The Black Sox posted a 21-3 record during the regular season to advance to the state tournament as the No. 1 seeded team. The Tigers were 20-3 in the regular season and were the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

David McIlvaine (Issaquah) was named tournament MVP and Trenton Nagasawa (Issaquah), Steven Sacia (Issaquah), Matt Gonn (Issaquah), John Armour (Eastlake), Tyler Hillyer (Tahoma) and Michael Stewart (Skyline) were selected to the All-Tournament Team. The Black Sox enter the World Series with a 31-8 overall record.

Those interested in helping sponsor the team and its trip to the World Series, can contact Mark Nagasawa at (206) 660-2155 or e-mail to marknagasawa@yahoo.com. The Black Sox Baseball Club is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.