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YAKIMA -- When the Yakima Pepsi Beetles hosted Wenatchee last week in a Central Washington League doubleheader they scored 36 runs in a sweep.

But when Yakima visited the Apple Packers the next day they scored just two runs and got swept.

Less than a week after that bizarre turnaround, the two Senior Legion teams will meet again today at Parker Field with a berth in the state tournament on the line.

"Who knows which team will show up?," said Beetles coach Mike Bailey. "That's the big question, but I've got a good feeling we'll be ready to play."

The good news for Yakima is having the winner-to-state game -- a nine-inning contest scheduled to start at 7 p.m. -- on its homefield, where the Beetles (34-26) have won 14 of their last 16 games.

"The kids are fired up to be in this, especially after last night," said Bailey, referring to a second straight split with the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak on Monday. "They want a shot at state."

The winner of tonight's playoff will earn the CWL's fourth and final berth into the 16-team state tournament, which begins Friday with four-team regionals at Selah, Bellevue, Vancouver and Spokane.

The top two teams from each regional will advance to Tacoma for the state finals on Aug. 2-6.

Tonight's winner will advance to Spokane's regional at Jackson Field. League champion Kennewick will come to the Selah regional, Twin City is headed to Bellevue and third-place Yakima Valley (39-16) is headed to Vancouver.

King Nissan of Bellingham, the defending state champion, won the Northwest District title and is headed for the Selah regional. Selah's other yet-to-be-determined entries will come from the Southwest (No. 3) and Spokane (No. 2).

h# Beetles eye state berth