Little League state champs attend Monday's game at Safeco Field

The Mercer Island baseball team and Mill Creek softball team were on hand Monday at Safeco Field to watch batting practice and deliver the ceremonial first pitch. Each team won its respective 12-year-old state championship tournament and was honored before the game.

Mercer Island took the long route to the state championship coming through the losers' bracket. The squad played eight games in seven days, using seven pitchers to win the tournament. In regionals, a 4-0 start was halted by the eventual champions from Oregon, who went on to play in Williamsport, Penn., in the Little League World Series.

Mill Creek won the state tournament after defeating perennial powerhouse Gig Harbor in the finals. Mill Creek dealt Gig Harbor its first loss in three years and outscored opponents, 122-16, in its nine games. Hawaii and Arizona proved to be too much at regionals, but victories over Idaho and Oregon gave Mill Creek the unofficial title.

-- Emory Brinkman / MLB.com Real-Time Correspondent

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