Local baseball coaches are looking for the top young local talent on the peninsula so they can compete with the best off of it.

The Olympic Crosscutters select baseball program is expanding its vision this spring by offering an 11U squad.

After hosting tryouts on April 29, coaches are hosting a second session at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the Carrie Blake Park ball fields.

The Crosscutter 11U team will play in eight tournaments between June and August.

Like other Crosscutter teams, players are expected from across the region from Sequim, Port Angeles, Forks, Port Townsend and Chimacum. The 11U coaches include Sequim’s own Justin Giles, plus Port Angeles’ Adam Johnson and Dan Anderson from Jefferson County.

“We’re bridging the gaps between each town,” program director John Qualls said.

Qualls said coaches wanted to add the 11-year-old squad after seeing programs in other communities help their youths make the leap to larger fields and more advanced rules.

“Everywhere else starts that at 11,” Qualls said. “Our 13-year-olds are two years behind.”

Cost per 11U player is $600 for three uniforms and eight tournament fee entries.

On April 29, Qualls and players from the Crosscutter 13U program (who already have started their 2017 tournament schedule) helped young 11U athletes on proper throwing, fielding and stretching form.

“These kids eat, sleep, live baseball,” Qualls said, as a host of players worked on throwing techniques.

Crosscutter players can expect to travel and that’s no different for the 11U squad. Qualls said the team is looking at tournaments in the I-5 corridor and beyond, from Seattle, Tacoma and Lacey to Yakima and Spokane.

Program officials, however, are looking at some serious fundraising to bring as many as five tournaments to Sequim by next year, he said.

“A lot of teams want to get here,” Qualls said.

For more information, call Qualls at 461-0482.