The Tar Heel League State Tournament begins tomorrow in Hickory with 44 teams in five age-divisions competing for the title of state champion. The Washington 8U machine pitch All-Star team is one of the squads challenging for the state title after coming in second place at its district tournament on July 14.

Washington defeated the likes of Belhaven, Currituck, Camden and Pitt County to earn a spot in the district final and the state tournament. The most pivotal of those wins was against Pitt County in the district semifinal. Not only did the victory book Washington a spot in Hickory, but the Washington All-Stars battled back from a both a six-run deficit in the third inning and two runs down in the sixth to do it.

Washington fell to Dare County, the only team in the double-elimination tournament to defeat Washington, in the final, but Washington’s spot in Hickory was already cemented.

Washington opens the state tournament with a game tomorrow against Burke County at 5:15 p.m.