Greetings all!
We at the District Level are SO excited to announce our upcoming District Tournament –
It’s June 20-26 at Deer Park Washington, Tri-County Little League hosting!!
District Tournament is played each year at the start of the Little League International Tournament which ultimately ends in a World Series for ages 12 and up. Both softball and baseball tournaments are played
to select the best teams to go to State, Region, and eventually a World Series. The age group 12 (Majors or “Little League” division is the one you see on ESPN each year in August!). There are State level tournaments for ages 8 years old and up after Districts.
12 year olds go on to play in Region and World Series Tournaments.
We don’t have the schedule up yet as we are still collecting the information on which leagues are sending which teams, but we hope to have that posted on our website (https://www.wadist13ll.org
) next week.
How do they select “All-Star Teams”?
One question we get every year is “How are All-Star Teams Selected?”. The All-Star team is the team the league sends to District Tournament each year for whichever divisions they choose to send. First, keep
in mind it is the local league which determines which teams and divisions they send to Districts. It depends on the number of kids who wish to play during the tournament cycle (You could be playing baseball all summer!), and which coaches and managers can
commit to that kind of schedule. The “International Tournament” starts with Districts, and depending on division, and how well your team does, they could be playing into August! Teams under 12 years old generally stop at “State”, and 12 and above in both softball
and baseball can go all the way to a World Series.
To be selected to all All-Star team is an honor for any player, parent, manager, or coach. It means your league, your neighbors, and your community think you can represent the league in the most positive light.
Notice I didn’t say “The best players”, although the All-Star team is usually about picking the best players, it is also about picking the best sportsman-like players, and managers and coaches who put the kids first, AND have good managing and coaching skills.
Little League is about building community and teaching positive life lessons to players.
So, what is the selection process for All-Stars? It can vary, but it is always the responsibility of the local league to select the players. Some leagues have a board that selects the Manager, who then select
the players and assistant coaches. Other leagues have tryouts and a combination of Board and Managers select the team. Other leagues have the players in the division (Majors, AAA, etc) vote and they pick half the team, and the manager/board pick the other
half. It’s amazing to me each time when I see this method that the players always select the right team mates to the team. The kids know who is best and who is the best “sport”. But it is ultimately the responsibility of the local league to pick the players
that go to the All-Star team in whatever method they choose. There is no “single prescribed method”.
Once selected, you can expect YOUR PLAYER to have tons of practice, traveling to other locations to play, and lots and lots of “team time” as the manager works to congeal a team into a Tournament Team that
represents their league proudly.
In some divisions, a league can also put more than one All-Star team into the tournament into a division bracket. You can also have your player play in two different divisions (There are rules about all that,
BUT, it is possible!). And, at All-Star time, it gets very competitive. Extremely competitive. In fact, I have had “travel ball” and elite coaches who dominate on the travel ball tournament cycle, tell me they were not be able to win a Little
League International tournament schedule. They find out quickly that although Little League is about building up players and developing community, it can also be the most competitive youth baseball that exists when it comes to tournament time.
State Tournament and Beyond
We will most likely have the following divisions playing in our District Tournament for 2026: Baseball 8-10 (Minors), Baseball 10-11, Baseball Majors/Little League (12u), Softball 8-10, Softball Majors, Softball
Juniors. Although the schedule is not final, this is the “talked about” groups. If you win at Districts, you are then slated to play in the state tournament for your division. All the above divisions have State Tournaments
These tournaments are played throughout the state with each District working with a host league in their District. This year, our District has a “bye” year and we don’t host any tournaments. Next year 2027,
we are scheduled to host the State Tournament for “Baseball Intermediate” which is 11-13 year olds! WE don’t have any teams in this division yet, so talk to your boards about setting up 2027 to play Intermediate Baseball and follow those players after they
finish the 12 year old Major’s division.
TO find out where YOUR division is playing State you can go here:
https://www.littleleaguewash.org - they have all the host districts, towns, and leagues hosting the State level tournament. If your players is not Majors or above, they stop at State; if 12 or above they go on
to regionals and have a world series in their future.
Tournaments for State this year begin right around the 4th of July!
From State, we go to Region, which for baseball (ages 12 and up). Regional tournaments are held at different states, and the schedules and location for that and world series venues and schedules can be found
here: https://www.littleleague.org
Getting Ready for summer play, fall ball, and 2027
After the tournament cycle begins, and some teams get eliminated, it’s often the case that those teams take off their Little League shoulder patches and play the summer ball “travel ball schedule”, and play
in travel ball tournaments. This is completely acceptable by Little League, in fact we in the District encourage this kind of “post tournament” schedule for Little League players as it gives them more “reps” and exposure to other players, venues, and situations
in baseball… This enriches next years Little League experience. So if your team gets eliminated at Districts, take those patches off and get your coach/managers to keep those kids playing all summer!
If you win at Districts, it’s off to State!
Many leagues will offer fall ball too, so talk to your board members about fall ball. That’s a non-competitive effort put on by many leagues to get new players, or inexperienced players more chances to improve
their baseball skills. It usually plays Sept-October time frame and is a great time to get those skills sharpened up!
Intermediate Division
Each year we get asked about who is sponsoring Intermediate division in your leagues. We encourage ALL leagues to get their Intermediate division going for two reasons: 1) IN 2027 District 13 will be the host
of Intermediates in Washington State. 2) It allows players that are “aging out” of Majors (12u) to continue playing with their friends and community past age 12. Little League actually has divisions that go up to age 17! (Juniors and Seniors are the next 2
higher divisions after Intermediate. )
We had a lot of questions about Intermediate division this year, but never did have a league step up and put together an Intermediate division. I want to encourage you to talk to your boards and get your league
to start an Intermediate division for you “older” players! IT’s a great division with “Lead off steal”, balks, and higher pitch counts, and a bigger field! It’s often called “50/70” baseball because the pitching mound is at 50’ and the base paths are at 70’.
The outfield fence is between 225 and 275 feet!
If you have questions about this Intermediate division, you can write us at the district at
dadist13@wadist13ll.org or call 509-995-4200 –
Or any questions for that matter can be sent to the contacts above. We encourage you to get involved with your league. Volunteer, sit on a board, help coach, do field prep, work the concessions. In the end
it’s an good investment in your player and the community!
Sincerely,
JP
District Administrator (DA)
Washington Little League – District 13
T:509-995-4200
Follow us on Facebook@wadist13ll
