The Kirkland Softball 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars defeated Sno-Valley North on Saturday leading to a battle of the unbeaten teams in the District 9 Tournament at Everest Field A today at 6 p.m.

The Kirkland team defeated Sno-Valley, 7-1.

Christina Minor took to the pitcher’s circle for home team Kirkland and yielded a legitimate in the park home run to the leadoff Sno-Valley batter. The next batter hit a strong single only to be stranded at second as Minor set down the next three batters to limit the damage to one run.

In the bottom of the first, Minor was determined to bring the team even, leading off with a stand-up double. Ava Warner laid down a bunt and used her speed to beat out the throw to first, advancing Minor to third. With Aldrich up, Minor challenged the catcher, who eventually threw a lazy ball back to the pitcher allowing Minor to steal home and reset the game at a tie. That sparked a Kirkland rally that saw the entire lineup head to the plate by the end of the first inning.

Aldrich hit a stand-up double, scoring the speedy Warner from second. After a hit batter and a walk, the bases were loaded for Bella Ely, who hit a towering shot to center that kept drifting right causing the Sno-Valley center fielder to misplay the ball. The bases cleared with Ely ending up on third. Isabella Phillips hit a hard grounder to second scoring Ely on the fielder’s choice and putting Kirkland up 6-1 after one inning which chased the Sno-Valley starting pitcher.

That was all the run support that Minor needed who cruised through the next five innings giving up only one walk and striking out 11 while backed by some excellent defense by the Kirkland infield.