Northstars 17U Win District Championships
July 29, 2026
By:
David Birdsell
Tri-County Northstars players and coaches celebrated with their championship shirts on July 20 at University High School following their 3-1 victory over the Mount Spokane Wild in the Spokane American Legion Baseball "AA" district championship game. From left to right are head coach Brandon Talmich, Simon Wood, Nikoli Hunsaker, Paxson Tobeck, Tristan Flugel, Carson Byrd, Justin Sturm, Payton Talmich, Cody Wilson, Hunter Robb, Ian Olietti, Issac Wadleigh, Levi Olietti with Caden Kundsvig on his shoulders, and assistant coach Eli Lee. Photo courtesy Amy Pederson.
The Tri-County Northstars 17U baseball team claimed the Spokane American Legion Baseball "AA" district championship on July 20 at University High School with a 3-1 win over the Mount Spokane Wild, the tournament’s top seed.
Tri-County struck first on a Cody Wilson run, scoring a single in the second inning. In the bottom of the same frame, the Wild scored what would be their only run to knot the score.
The Northstars took the lead when Caden Knudsvig singled and Mt. Spokane committed an error. Each scored a run for the final margin. Ian Olietti pitched the complete game, striking out six and allowing just three hits. Next on their agenda was heading to Kennewick for the state tournament. T
he Spokane Valley Titans jumped to an early lead on July 25 and held off the Northstars 9-6. Issac Wadleigh had four hits and two runs scored while the Olietti brothers Ian and Levi combined for five hits.
Tri-County tried to stave off elimination against the hometown Kennewick Dusters on July 26. The local squad tallied three in the first but could not hold off the Dusters, falling 7-6. Hunter Robb scored twice, Ian Olietti drove in two, and Levi Olietti had two hits.