The Mercer Island 10- to 11-year-old baseball All-Star team is off to a great start in the 2009 District 9 tournament. The Islanders celebrated the holiday weekend by winning their first two games by a cumulative score of 31-12.

On July 4, Mercer Island delivered a convincing 12-2 victory over Bellevue West in five innings behind the strong pitching of Andrew Pickles. The team ace was supported by several defensive plays by outfielders Brenden Yan, Peter Lopes, Eric Kim and Jackson Caputo. Every player reached base, and the team hit .400 while drawing 10 walks.

Last Sunday, the team faced defending state champions Redmond North and put on an impressive display on offense, winning 19-10. Nathan Gallatin and Michael Petrie combined on the mound to contain the strong Redmond North offense. The pitching benefited greatly from four double plays in six innings, led by centerfielder Cameron Coe. Yan continued his hot hitting with five RBIs, while sluggers Kim and Petrie drove in three apiece. Lucas Chapman, Caputo and Sam Nordale also chipped in with some clutch hitting.

For the game, the team batted .457 with 16 hits and drew another eight walks.

The Little League hopefuls from Mercer Island face their next opponent, Snoqualmie Valley, tonight (July 8) at 6 p.m. on Dodd Field in Issaquah. The winner of this game will advance to the finals of the winner’s bracket on Saturday, July 11, at 10 a.m.

The Mercer Island 9- to 10-year-old baseball All-Star team also won its first two games, defeating the Bellevue East Little League All-Stars, 11-1, in five innings.

Starting pitcher Scott Ramseyer, went the distance throwing just 61 pitches. On Sunday, the 9-10s beat the Sammamish American All-Stars, 10-6, to advance to the semifinals against neighboring Thunderbird Little League, on Wednesday, July 8, at 6 p.m. at Hartman Park in Redmond.

The League also has high hopes for its strong 11-12 baseball team, which starts the District 9 tournament at 12 p.m., July 11, at Hidden Valley Park in Bellevue against the Bellevue East Little League All-Stars.

In softball, the Mercer Island 9-10 team also started strong, with a win over Snoqualmie. They play this Saturday, at 9 a.m., at Everest Park in Kirkland. The Mercer Island Juniors (13- to 14-year-olds) softball All-Stars play their first game on Sunday, at 9 a.m., also at Everest Park in Kirkland.

Mercer Island Little League also has two girls playing on a combined Bellevue/MI 10- to11-year-old All-Star team on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Everest Park.

Two Island girls, Claire McCarthy and Julia Blumenstein, and coach Pat McCarthy are playing on a combined Bellevue Thunderbird/Mercer Island Majors (11- to 12-year-old) division all-star team. Called the “Bellevue Blast,” McCarthy’s team won the 12UB NSA (National Softball Association) State Championship in the Tri-Cities last month out of a field of 31 teams.

They will defend their state championship at 6 p.m., July 9, at Eastlake High School in Sammamish.