BREMERTON, Wash. – The U.S. West Regional begins today with first round matchups between Arizona and Washington (state champions), Northern California and Hawaii, and the host team vs. Southern California.

Nevada and Oregon are also in the eight-team tournament. The teams will engage in Pool play through Wednesday, with the semifinals Thursday and the finals Friday.

Last year’s winners, Thousand Oaks, Calif., did not win the spot as the Southern California champions this season, so there will be a new U.S. West representative in the Big League World Series. Thousand Oaks had won the previous two U.S. West tournaments.

District 46, from Anaheim, is this years Southern California representatives, last came to Easley in 2008 as the U.S. West representatives.

The Big League World Series begins July 27 at the J.B. “Red” Owens Recreation Complex. The championship game will be played Aug. 3 and will be televised live on ESPN2.