MEDFORD, Ore. — The Tri-City Titans, who recently won the Washington State AAA American Legion baseball championship, opened the Northwest Regionals on Wednesday with a 13-3 victory over Alaska state champion Kenai.

The Titans now play Thursday against the Lewiston (Idaho) Twins.

On Wednesday, the Titans scored in every inning of the 7-inning contest (shortened because of the 10-run rule) except the second.

Tri-City batters collected 8 hits and walked 9 more times.

“It’s definitely a big win,” said Titans manager Charlie DeWitt, whose team improves to 26-10. “It’s nice to get into this tournament, start well, and get a nice breath. This eases them into this.

“We were very patient at the plate today,” DeWitt continued. “This team plays together, and they play hard for each other. We’re all pulling on the same rope.”

Brady Mattson, a Kennewick High graduate who is headed to Columbia Basin College this fall to play baseball, was 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple. Mattson also drove in two runs and scored two more himself.

Trayce Teagle — a Kennewick grad who will play at Walla Walla Community College — started on the mound for the Titans, going 4.1 innings and striking out 4 batters. Teagle also had a hit and scored three runs.

Rece McClure, a senior at Kennewick, pitched the final 2.2 innings. He surrendered no hits, runs or walks, and he struck out 6 more batters.

Because of the extreme heat (101, 102 degrees) in Medford tournament officials are pushing the latter two games of the day start back from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

So the Titans will play at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Tri-City won the state title in Spokane on July 29, beating Whatcom Post 7 by an 11-0 score in the championship game. The Titans went 4-1 in the tournament.

Bulk of American 12s back in spotlight

For 10 of the 12 Kennewick American all-stars playing in the Cal Ripken World Series, this isn’t their first time in the spotlight.

“Those 10 kids played in the 10-year-olds World Series two years ago in Crown Point, Ind.,” said KA manager Steve Martinez.

For this year’s squad, pool play in this event in Branson, Mo., begins on Friday.

Kennewick will have four games in pool play (all times Pacific): vs. Rapid City, S.D., 7 a.m., Friday; vs. Southeast Denver at 11 a.m., Saturday; vs. Stafford, Va., at 8:30 a.m., on Sunday; and vs. Branson, Mo., at 10 a.m., on Monday.

After pool play, teams will be seeded into either the top-level Gold Bracket; or the consolation Iron Man Bracket.

Martinez says he likes his team’s chances in battling for the title in a record 43-team tournament.

There are 26 teams in the U.S. division, and another 17 from the international division.

“The biggest thing I like about our guys is this team rallies around each other,” said Martinez. “Usually, when you get to this level, there are three or four guys you rely on. But this team, we’re tough up and down this lineup.”

Also, with so many entries into this tournament, there are likely more games to be played. That means there is a need for more pitching.

Martinez says he can depend on anywhere from 8 to 10 kids who can pitch.

“We‘ll need to utilize our pitching,” said Martinez.

Kennewick won the Northwest Regional tournament in Meridian, Idaho, beating Helena, Mont., 14-4 in the title game on July 25.

KA went 5-1 in the tournament, outscoring its opponents 66-11.