Air quality wreaking havoc with all-star tourneys

With the Section 2 tournament looming this weekend, District 47 cancelled all-star tournament games for the second day in a row on Wednesday, causing a scramble to get games completed prior to the start of the next stage of the Little League tournament.

Poor air quality and the evacuation of some families in the Paradise and Oroville area necessitated the postponement. Most of the district tournaments are in the final series, however the junior softball tournament just began on Monday and only two games have been played. The Section 2 junior softball tournament begins today, meaning a number of games needed to be completed by Thursday.

According to District 47 commissioner Todd Stewart, he was working with Little League officials at the Western Region office in order to find the most equitable solution for rescheduling games and sending teams to the next level of competition.

The decisions affected several Glenn County teams competing in championship games this week.

The Orland 11-12 major baseball all-stars were scheduled to play a rematch with Westside on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine the Pool A winner. The champion would then play a series with the winner of Pool B, either El Rancho or Durham, to determine the district champion. Fortunately the section tournament does not begin until July 16 and it will be held in Sutter.

Things are a little bit stickier for the Willows 11-12 softball all-stars who began play against Paradise South in the first game of the championship series on Monday with an 11-8 loss but did not play Tuesday or Wednesday. The section 2 tournament is scheduled to begin today with District 47 playing District 2 in the first game at Red Bluff High School. Paradise and Willows likely played on Thursday to determine the District 47 champion.

The Willows junior baseball all-stars were set to play a best-of-three series with Chico Central at Biggs this week, but the first two games were postponed. Willows likely played Thursday and will play again today if necessary. The junior sectional tournament begins on Sunday in Susanville.

The junior softball tournament has played only three games so some doubleheaders may be in order to determine the champion. Willows lost its first game on Monday and Orland has yet to play after receiving a first-round bye. The sectional tournament begins July 16 in Wheatland.