By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Caleb Dierda hit 4-for-4 and almost completed a cycle as South Highline National defeated Southwest of White Center, 15-2, in the opening game of the District 7 Intermediate Little League All-Star Tournament Friday.
Douglas Hobbs backed Dierda up by hitting 3-for-4 with a double and Cole Thompson hit 2-for-2 as National pounded out 11 hits.

Southwest scored its two runs on five hits and had Colby Sessions hit 2-for-3.

National now advances to play West Seattle in the winner's bracket final of the three-team tournament at PacWest Field No. 3 in Burien at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The loser plays Southwest in the loser's bracket final at 9 a.m. Sunday.
The championship is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday and the if-necessary game of the double-elimination tournament for 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Friday's game was stopped in the middle of five innings by a 10-run rule.

Dierda singled in the first, doubled in the second and tripled in both the third and the fourth -- with the latter hit close to scoring him with a home run.

National scored three runs in the bottom of the first, five in the second and two in the third for a 10-0 lead before Southwest got on the board for one in the fourth.

National answered with five in the bottom of the inning before Southwest scored one in the top of the fifth and what turned out to be final inning.
Southwest had four hits in the frame -- with Sessions, Adam Hindle, Keiondre Carter and Tobias Woodard all hitting singles.

National picked off two runners at third, caught one trying for home on an error and caught another trying to steal third in the game.

Players with one hit for National besides Dierda, Hobbs and Thompson were Peter Shelley and Michael Ung.