The Kent/Auburn 10-11 Little League Softball All-Stars swept three games in the district playoffs to qualify for this weekend’s state tournament.

The Dynamite opened the state playoffs with a 1 p.m. game today at Valley Ridge Park (Tyee High School) in Seatac.

In District 10 play, the all-stars rolled past FME, 18-3 in the final. They earlier beat FME, 15-5, and opened the playoffs with a 16-0 rout of Soundview.

Players from Auburn are: Taylor Flores, Angie Hagen, Laurel Tauzer, Savannah Klemetsen, Rowan Carpenter, Emily Houck and Brianna Azevedo. Players from Kent are: Mealofamailelagi Palaita, Rhilmina Sagapolutele, Keyanna Clanton and Kehaulani Planesi.

Perry Azevedo is the manager, Paul Tauzer and Nuu Palaita are coaches.

A special thanks to Steven Walter and Leslie Harris for helping out the team.

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Auburn/Kent Senior girls win 3, advance to state

After a first-round loss, the Kent/Auburn Senior All-Star fastpitch team bounced back in a big way during the District 10 tournament at Brannan Park, which was held from July 2-6.

The Kent/Auburn stars lost its opening game 20-18 to Federal Way National, but responded by picking up three straight wins to secure the title. Kent/Auburn lost the opener on July 2, then responded with a 12-5 win over Federal Way/Soundview on July 4.

Kent/Auburn continued the pace July 5-6, upending Federal Way National 3-1 in the semifinals, then again in the championship game, 10-8. The team is comprised of 11-12-year-old girls in the Kent and Auburn area.

The three wins helped the local stars earn a berth in this weekend’s state tournament, which will be played in Woodinville.

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Kent Reporter sports reporter Erick Walker contributed to this report.