WASHINGTON CITY — The Washington Little League All-Stars will represent Utah in two different regional softball tournaments this weekend.

Both the Washington Little League All-Stars junior and major teams won their state tournaments last week and moved on to their respective next rounds.

Coaches estimated that this summer marks the first time in 17 years that the Washington Little League All-Stars won two divisions at state.

Little League softball has three total divisions: major, junior and senior.

Washington’s junior team, featuring players 13- and 14-year-olds, will represent Utah at a regional tournament in Tucson, Arizona, starting with their first game Saturday morning.

If they advance from there, they’ll play for the World Series in Kirkland, Washington, July 28-Aug. 3.

The team had an early morning practice Wednesday in Washington City, preparing to depart for Tucson on Thursday.

“It’s nice to win, and we’ll do our best to do that, but I just want them to have fun, have some good memories,” coach Victoria Litherland told St. George News as the players took batting practice.

“When they look back on their childhood, hopefully they’re going to remember this,” she added.

Litherland said that the strength of the team is in the tight bonds the players have formed with each other over the summer.

“They just play really well together,” she said. “In the past eight weeks, I’ve never seen one of them get down on another one. They’re always just very positive.”

Players on the junior team include Charlize Field, Olivia Henningsgard, Joely Anderson, Estelle Kirkland, Lybee Hafen, Kamarie Sullivan, Tessa Tuckfield, Lyndee Merrill, Maycee Merrill, Maycee Simpson, Presley McDaniel and Kiyah Barnes.

Carly Merrill and Danette Sullivan are assistant coaches.

Washington’s major team, featuring 11- and 12-year-olds, will play for Utah in a regional tournament in San Bernardino, California, starting with their first game Sunday morning.

If they win regionals, they will advance to the World Series in Greenville, North Carolina, Aug. 4-11.

Coach Garrett Walpole told St. George News that the players expected they would win state and go to San Berdoo (as it is known).

“This has been a goal of theirs. They had that desire two or three years ago. I’m really proud they made a goal back then, set a goal and accomplished it,” Walpole said.

“They played with confidence knowing they worked hard and had the track record to go beat the teams that were ahead of them,” he added.

The major team got what some would call a break with a bye in the first round of the tournament.

“We’re the type of team that it wouldn’t have mattered if we had a bye,” Walpole said. “The girls are always game-ready, mentally prepared for whoever they play. We’re going there to play the way we know how to play, to play our game.”

Players on the major team include Avi Park, CJ Dickson, Maddy Abbott, Addi Carroll, Reagan Walpole, Preslie Woods, Sarah Seegmiller, Gia Cuillard, Kennedy Neva, Paisley Hopkins, Zoie Warczak and Kenzi Araiza.

Thad Seegmiller and Laci Warczak are assistant coaches.

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