By Tim Clinton

Sports Editor

Ballard/Magnolia finds itself in the driver's seat in Tucson for a trip to: Kirkland.

The Washington state championship team of 13 year old girls has made the final at the Junior League Softball West Regional tournament needing to be defeated twice to miss the title.

To the regional champion goes a berth into the World Series to take place July 30 through Aug. 5 just across Lake Washington from Ballard and Magnolia.

Ballard/Magnolia is awaiting an opponent for the 5 p.m. Wednesday West Region final in Arizona.

The team can take the title directly by winning that game, or by bouncing back from a loss to take a second game at 7 p.m.

One possible opponent is Alaska, the team Ballard/Magnolia beat by a 3-0 score in Monday's winner's bracket final.

Ballard/Magnolia has been toiling in the Tucson sun since Saturday.

It opened with an 11-3 win over Utah before beating the Tucson area hosts by a 10-5 score Sunday.

That set up Monday's meeting with Alaska.