Today’s 9 & 10 Year Old and Little League baseball games signal the start of the annual District 1 baseball and softball tournament.

In all, District 1 Administrator Bill Dithrich expects 64 teams from the county and region will be competing for a district title and a spot in the next level of the playoffs.

“It’s the big start,” Dithrich said.

French Creek Valley American meets Vernon at 6 p.m. today at Fairgrounds Field 4 and that will be followed by Mid-East against Cochranton under the lights at 8 p.m. Four games highlight the Little League baseball schedule.

Dithrich said their have been no significant rule changes for baseball and softball this year.

One change, though, is in the field itself. Greenville will participate in this year’s District 1 softball tournament because Greenville’s home district (District 2) does not have other softball teams at the Junior League, Little League and 9 & 10 year old levels.

Another change has been in the number of Senior League baseball teams. He said at one time, Meadville field seven seperate Senior League teams, but changes in age restrictions for the league and other issues have reduced the number of teams. This year there are just two Senior League teams Mid-East/Titusville and a combination of Tri-Boro, French Creek Valley American, Meadville and Jamestown.

The winner of the Senior League baseball title will not have to travel far for the second round. Meadville Little League will host the tournament at the Fairgrounds Fields. That tournament runs July 23-26.

McLane Little League will host the other local sectional.

The Little League softball Section 1 tournament will be at the McLane Little League Complex along Route 6N.

The District 1 champions will advance to the Section 1 tournament and the section winners will advance to the state tournament. 9 & 10 Year Old baseball and softball stops at the state level, while the other age levels move on to regionals and finally the their league’s world series.