A combined Mercer Island/Bellevue All-Stars softball team of 11- and 12-year-olds won the state tournament on July 23 in La Center, defeating a team from North Seattle 14-3.

Known affectionately as the “Thin Mints” (made up of softball All-Stars from the Mercer Island, Bellevue Thunderbird, Bellevue West little leagues) the team has gone 8-1 since beginning tournament play. The team’s sole loss was a 1-0 defeat at the hands of eventual District Nine runner-up Fall City.

The combined team reached the West Regional Tournament, to be held on August 1-9 at Fort Vancouver Field in Vancouver, Washington. Their opponents, yet to be determined (as of July 24), will represent Southern California. The tournament will be contested by 10 teams from eight states and will determine who plays for a chance to go to the Little League Softball World Series next month in Portland, Oregon.

Pitching, defense and timely hitting powered the girls to the state title. Led by starters Kaitlin Sahlinger and Kathryn Wood, the Thin Mints played near perfect defense to defeat powerful hitting teams from Stilly Valley (8-7), Sedro Wooley (10-5) and Bainbridge Island (8-0) on their way to the championship game.

Mercer Island residents Julia Blumenstein and Claire McCarthy were standouts throughout the two tournaments including the final game as Blumenstein went one-for-one with two runs scored and an RBI while McCarthy went one-for-two with a double and three RBI.