Washington rolling along

As the tournament headed into the semifinal round Tuesday night,

just four teams were left standing. Two, however, had established

themselves as the favorites from the start: Ocean View and Hazel Dell

Little League of Vancouver, Wash.

While Ocean View was rolling along in one-half of the

double-elimination bracket, Hazel Dell has been whipping the competition

in the other half of the bracket.

Hazel Dell, which met Montana in Tuesday’s late semifinal game, opened

the tournament with an 8-0 win over Hawaii, then topped Oregon, 8-2. The

league picked up its third win by blasting Montana, 14-0, then secured a

spot in tonight’s final by beating Montana Tuesday, 6-0.

“That’s one good team,” Ocean View Coach Randy Melchert said of Hazel

Dell. “They’re solid from top to bottom.”