By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

Two knockout blows were all it took for South Highline National to nab the District 7 Junior Little League baseball tournament title.

The group of 13 and 14-year-olds found themselves in a two-team tournament with only the Rainier District team and went out and put the opposition away by 12-0 and 21-7 scores on Thursday and Friday, respectively, at the PacWest fields.

National now finds itself as a team with a mission as it advances to the state tournament starting Saturday, July 15 in Shoreline.

"Last year we lost the state championship that would have sent us to Arizona," explained coach Josh Quijano. "This year we want to win and go to Michigan. We lost the championship in the 50/70 (Intermediate) division so we have unfinished business. These boys have worked hard all year to get back to this spot. It's been a fun year, but we're not done."

Rainier Beach jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Friday's District 7 final, but National took control with a 15-run rally in the top of the second.

National is managed by Todd Kephart, who is assisted by coach Nathan Cooke and Quijano.

Players on the National team are Dillon Charles, Ethan Cooke, Greger Covich, Zach Cunningham, Tyler Kephart, Nate Meyer, Tony Perovich, Preston Quijano, Jabari Ramos, Justin Stetson, Parker Stonesifer and Tristen Trujillo.

The National league president is Ryan Laurencio.