The semi-state round of the 40th annual Town & Country Youth Baseball State Tournament will have plenty of local representation as all six teams entered at each age level from both Delphi and Flora earned the opportunity to advance from the opening-round district levels over the weekend.

Delphi and Flora had teams advance in the Senior League (12-year-olds-&-under), Junior League (10-&-under) and the Minor League (8-&-under) divisions to their respective semi-state rounds.

Saturday's rainy weather played havoc at most district sites, some of which had as many as 13 teams, so not all districts had finished as of press time, but all results were final as of late Tuesday night.

Forty-eight youth baseball teams from around northern Indiana will take part in the semi-state rounds, including eight at each host site and the first four-time defending state champion 12-&-under team from Delphi.

Senior League

The Delphi Senior League team took its first step toward an unprecedented fifth-straight championship with a runnerup finish at the District I championship played Monday night in Delphi.

After being sent to the loser's bracket round of the double-elimination tournament following a 5-3 loss to old-rival Kokomo UCT Sunday afternoon, Delphi rebounded with a dominating 10-0, 4-inning drubbing of Galveston to earn another shot at UCT in the finals.

Delphi gained momentum in the evening's first match-up, pounding out five home runs in another 10-0, 4-inning rout to force the "if necessary" game for the district title.

But UCT answered the challenge in the championship with a hard-earned 5-4 nailbiter that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final out.

Both teams advance to the Walton Semi-State, with Delphi opening on Friday night at 6 p.m. against Otterbein.

Flora's senior team earned the #4 seed and will face the Attica District winner, either Northwestern or Attica - not yet determined - on Friday at 8 p.m.

Other team's participating at Walton include Galveston, Oxford and Pioneer.

Junior League

Delphi and Flora's Junior League teams (10-&-under) both advanced to the Galveston Semi-State, with Flora using its runner-up finish at the Reynolds District to earn a #2 seed and face Walton Friday night at 6.

Delphi, the #3 seed, will open against the host team on Thursday at 8 p.m.

Other Junior League teams playing at Galveston include Northwestern, North White, Oak Hill and Pioneer.

Minor League

Both Flora and Delphi's Minor League teams (8-&- under) also advanced to semistate action, which for the first time will be held at Flora.

Flora's runner-up finish at the Camden District earned a #2 seed. Flora will play Lapel on Friday at 6 p.m.

Delphi, the #4 seed, will take on Oak Hill District winner Kokomo Southside Friday at 8 p.m, while 3rd-seeded Rossville will open against Frankton Thursday at 8 p.m.

District champion Frankfort will join Alexandria to comprise the Flora Minor division semi-state field.

Double-elimination tournament play continues throughout the weekend, with the semi-state championship rounds slated for Monday night at 6, with the "if necessary" game following at 8.

The top four teams from each semi-state will advance to the state finals to be held next weekend.