A group of Sammamish 11-year-old Little Leaguers is headed to the state tournament after winning three straight loser-out games to capture the District 9 tournament crown.

After lopsided wins over Bellevue Thunderbird, Kirkland American and Snoqualmie Valley, the Sammamish squad was dropped to the loser’s bracket by Mercer Island.

But Sammamish earned a rematch with a win 10-0 win over Issaquah and then won back-to-back games over the Islanders for the championship. Sammamish trailed 2-0 as late as the fifth inning in the final game of the tournament before storming back for the 8-6 win.

The state tournament begins July 14 in Mill Creek.

Team members are: Dawson Baracani, Jake Beck, Hunter Brazier, Paul Creekmore, Cole Hinkelman, Andrew Moore, Kevin Nutt, Daniel Qin, Eddie Rosemont, Art Schoenstadt, Will Simpson, Davis Vann.

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