The Mentone 8U softball team won the Town & Country state title at Walton last weekend. In the front row are, from left, Lucinda Ruff, Kacie Davis, Anna Bradley, Elise Smith, Malaynie Costello, Payton Kohler, Abby Gustaf, Daylynne Bussard, Bayleigh Sleeth and Sami Gustaf. In the back row are coaches Eric Kohler, Joe Gustaf, Zach Davis and Dan Thompson. (Photo provided)

Little league baseball and softball teams from around the northern third of Indiana began the 2016 Town & Country tournaments this past week. The tournaments culminated with final rounds Monday night at the district levels, setting up the semi-state tourneys this week.

Noting locals teams, Mentone’s 12U baseball team and 8U softball teams both won district titles. The baseball team beat Bremen, 8-5, in the championship at Pierceton. Mentone beat Whitko, 2-1, in the semi-finals and beat New Paris, 9-8, in the second round of the tourney. Bremen got to the final by walloping Whitko, 18-0, in the get-back game.

Mentone, Bremen, Whitko and North Manchester all qualified for the semi-state tournament at Rochester which begins Thursday.

In the 10U baseball tournament at Rochester, NorthWood claimed the title over Rochester. Whitko beat Mentone in the third-place game, with all four teams advancing to the semi-state tournament. New Paris also gets into the semi-state finishing fifth. The semi-state will be hosted by North Miami starting Wednesday.

Mentone also sent a team to the final of the 8U tournament, but fell short to Rochester in the North Miami bracket. Plymouth and North Miami were third and fourth, and NorthWood was fifth as the teams advancing to the semi-state at Monticello this Wednesday.

The 8U softball team from Mentone finished off Rochester at Walton. The 8U tournament was the only softball bracket in action in the Town & Country format. Mentone went 4-1 in the tourney, beating Rochester twice after suffering its only loss to Rochester in the winner’s bracket matchup. In the championship game, Mentone rallied to beat Rochester 19-9, giving the team its first-ever Town & Country team championship.

The 10U tournament starts Thursday at North Miami, with teams from Mentone and New Paris involved, and the 12U tournament starts Friday at New Paris with Mentone and New Paris teams among the bracket.