All-Stars to begin tourneys> Players to compete in baseball, softball games

Two-time District 3 ages 11-12 Little League champ Old Town will look to defend its consecutive District 3 All-Star titles when it opens against Moosabec of Jonesport in the first round of the double elimination Little League tournament Monday.

Little League baseball and softball teams in Little, Junior and Senior League from across the state open tourney competition next week.

Regional champions go to the state tournament and the state champions move on to the Northeast regional.

District 3 encompasses Penobscot, Piscataquis, Aroostook, Washington and Hancock counties. District 2 covers Waldo, Knox and Lincoln counties.

District 2 defending champion Waldoboro will face Knox Suburban in that district’s opening round on Sunday in ages 11-12.

Auburn Suburban beat South Portland National for the state Little League title last year.

In the Ages 9-10 division, 1997 District 2 winner Waldo County opens against Rockland on Sunday. District 3 starts on July 10 with Acadia-Machias and Old Town-Bangor West games in Millinocket. Bangor East, last summer’s district champion, plays Orono-Veazie in its July 11 tournament opener. Deering was the state tournament winner in 1997.

All District 3 tourney games for ages 9-10 are in Millinocket.

Brewer will start the defense of its 1997 District 3 crown against Coastal of Blue Hill when the District 3 Junior League tourney for age 13 players on July 8 at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor. Saco beat Brewer in the state title game last year. Senior League baseball, for players ages 14-15, begins for District 3 with a game pitting Brewer against Coastal Wednesday at Mansfield. District 3 champion Bangor opens tournament play against Acadia on July 9. Auburn took the state championship last summer.

All Junior and Senior League District 3 tourney games are at Mansfield.

District 3 ages 11-12 Little League softball also opens on Monday with three games, including defending district champion Old Town against Hampden. District 2’s four teams start play on Monday. Old Town and District 2 winner Waldoboro were knocked out of the state tournament last year as South Portland won the state title.

The District 3 ages 9-10 softball tournament begins Tuesday with Acadia-Hampden and 1997 District 3 champ Old Town against Machias. Camden-Rockport was the District 2 winner last year and Augusta East went on to win the state tournament. Waldo County and Damariscotta of District 2 will play on July 15.

District 3 Senior League softball starts on July 13 with Bangor-Acadia and Old Town-Holbrook games.