THE DALLES, ORE. — Three years ago, the North Kitsap Babe Ruth 14s All Stars won the regional tournament to advance to the World Series for the first time in NK history.

Now, this year’s 14s are flirting with a chance to join that record-setting team — all in that very same Columbia Gorge town.

North Kitsap has won its first three games of the tournament, beating all three squads by a combined 53-4 score, and has qualified for a chance to play in the semi-finals of the tournament.

“Everything’s coming together,” said Mike Jones, NKBR 14s manager. “That good defense (from the state tournament) is still there but the bats have woken up as well.”

Jones said the team’s current winning streak stems from the team’s disappointment a year ago in not qualifying for the 13s regional tournament.

“They were so close last year,” Jones said. “They really wanted it this year and I think they see what’s possible here.”

North opened play in The Dalles, Ore. Aug. 5, with a 16-1 win over the Phoenix Talent, Southern Oregon’s regional representative. NK put up 17 hits in the game and gave up only two, behind the pitching of Jamaal Smith, Marcus Harris and Kyle Murray. Chris Jones went three-four-four and everyone on the team except one had two hits.

“We just came to play,” said NKBR 14s assistant coach Ollie Kenyon. “Everybody started hitting.”

After a day off, North Kitsap resumed its slugfest Saturday with a 16-3 thrashing of Columbia Gorge, the host team. Jones pitched a complete game four-hitter for NK in a game which featured five runs in the first inning of play and only one inning of shut-out ball for the Gorge team. Also on the defensive end, North turned three double plays in the game.

“The kids just jumped out on them and kept the pressure on,” Jones said.

North sealed a chance to play in semi-final action Sunday by drubbing Torrington — Wyoming’s regional representative — 21-0 in five innings. Eight players had two runs each for NK including James Smith, who also had two doubles and two singles to go with six RBIs. On the mound, Harris, Tyler Seth and Murray combined for a three-hitter.

Both Jones and Kenyon said the team’s success can be attributed to many different things — among them the fields at which the squad is playing.

The Dalles suits the team well, the coaches agreed.

“The wind comes off the Columbia (River), the ball carries and it creates a lot of holes (in the outfield),” Kenyon said.

For a fast team and also one that is solid defensively, that spells trouble for other squads in the tournament.

“There’s a lot of gaps and a lot of area to cover,” Jones said of the park. “It’s tailored for our team.”

Success in the semi-finals and perhaps final game — held Tuesday after Herald press time — will depend on how well the team echoes past success using the whole team to win games, Jones said.

“It’s a combined effort,” Jones said. “Different nights you have different kids step up.”