Missoula will be represented well this weekend in Montana Little League state baseball tournaments in Billings.

Three local all-star teams will carry into action the banner of the Mount Sentinel program. That includes squads in the Major division (age 12), the 10/11 bracket and the 9/10 division.

It’s been six years since a representative from District 1, which includes Missoula, knocked off the District 2 champion in the Major division at state. But manager Lawrence King likes this year’s Mount Sentinel team a lot.

“I would assume (Big Sky) would be the favorites but I feel pretty good about our team,” said King, whose squad opens its best-of-3 series Friday at 6 p.m. at Rose Park. “I like our balance of strong hitting and pitching.

“I have a group of kids that have been playing together for quite a while, a lot of them since T-ball. Many of the kids have also played travel baseball the last couple years.”

King’s crew is on a major roll, winning all seven of its games since forming. They won four district contests by a combined score of 90-8.

“We have four No. 1 pitchers but we probably go eight deep in the pitching,” noted the coach, whose team can secure a spot in the Northwest Regionals in San Bernardino, Calif., with a state title.

The Mount Sentinel 10/11 all-stars were equally impressive in their run to state.

“We’ve played six games so far in all-star tournaments and the kids have had just three total errors as a team, which is incredible for 11-year-olds,” manager Creg Dieziger said. “And we’ve outscored the opposition 105-11.”

Dieziger’s team will need to be sharp to beat Boulder-Arrowhead in a best-of-3 series that begins Friday at 5 p.m. at Arrowhead School in Billings. According to the coach, Mount Sentinel has never won the 10/11 state tournament.

Manager Kirk Bodlovic’s 9/10 Mount Sentinel team will try to put it all together in a six-team, double-elimination state tourney that starts Friday. The Missoula squad will open against Boulder-Arrowhead at Arrowhead School Friday at 3 p.m.

“We’re a younger team with six 9-year-olds and five 10-year-olds based on league age,” Bodlovic noted, “so it’s a great chance to go to Billings and gain experience. I think we can be competitive with all the teams if we play well.”

Bodlovic looks for the Butte Northwest team to make some noise at state with a formidable offensive attack. If Mount Sentinel should win its opener, it will play Butte Northwest on Friday at 6 p.m. at Arrowhead School.