While many are spending the Fourth of July with family and friends, grilling out and lighting some sparklers, youth baseball players from around the area are converging on Washington for the 2017 Tar Heel League tournament.

Last year’s tournament was held in Jamesville. The hosts made sure to schedule nearly a week’s worth of top-notch baseball. Players of all ages dazzled. One of the most memorable plays of the tournament was a young baserunner stopping short and hurdling the opposing third baseman, evading the tag in what could have been a SportsCenter Top 10 highlight.

Last year’s opening day saw Chocowinity and Washington’s 10U squads meet in an early Beaufort County showdown. The game set the bar for what was a fun week on the diamond. Washington jumped out to a 4-0 lead in encounter, but Chocowinity matched its effort to walk off in extra innings.

North Beaufort 12U nearly completed a sort of Cinderella story during last year’s tournament. It needed to win its first game on the final day — which it did, 11-3 over host Jamesville — to advance to the District 7 championship against Southern Pitt. The local boys ran out of steam and couldn’t keep up with the high-octane team from their neighboring county, but still finished runners up.

Unlike last year, no Beaufort County teams will meet in Wednesday’s tournament opener. However, there are chances for local matchups in the second round. In the 10U division, a Chocowinity win at 6 p.m. on Wednesday would punch its ticket to a meeting with Washington White at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

In 12U action, if Bath (6 p.m. first pitch) and Chocowinity (8 p.m.) both win on Wednesday, the two will meet in the second round at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Bath and Belhaven each have a team represented in the 15U bracket. However, they won’t see each other until either the second round of the consolation bracket or the third round of the winner’s group.

In addition to the four Beaufort County areas represented, others competing in Washington include Jamesville, West Martin, Edenton, Perquimans, Camden, Pocosin, and a handful of Pitt County team. The double-elimination tournament is set to begin Wednesday with a pair of 15U games (Jamesville-Bath and Perquimans-Belhaven) at 5:30 p.m.