The Mathews County Little League Minor Softball All-Star Team, comprised of 9 and 10 year olds, defeated the Richmond County team twice in a row last week to win the District 15 championship and a berth at the state tournament in Woodstock, beginning July 13.

In a string of seven games over an eight-day period, the girls also played and defeated teams from Essex, Caroline, King William and Northumberland counties. Their only loss was to Richmond County, which they had to play two more times for the title.

The double-elimination state tournament will involve as many as 16 teams from all Little League districts across the state.

Team manager J.J. Ashberry said the girls began on June 18, practicing 3 to 3½ hours every day until the start of the tournament, with perfect attendance from every player. The final two games were played back-to-back on Friday night and Saturday morning.

The one game lost to Richmond County was a heartbreaker, said Ashberry, but he and coaches S...