Batters up! Kirkland hosts the Junior Softball World Series this week

It's a big week in Little League softball in Washington, and it's coming to the Eastside. The Kirkland All-Stars are hosting the Junior Softball World Series.

They'll be one of ten teams from around the world battling for a chance to play in the world championship game this coming weekend.

Nicole Bartman, 14, plays left field or shortstop for Kirkland. She admits she's a little nervous, but she said it helps that she's been doing this for awhile, and with some familiar faces.

"I've been playing since I've been four or five, and they've all been on my team, so they're like my family," she said.

Mikal Norman is the girls' coach. He's also from Kirkland. And he said the competition will be fierce.

"It's still the World Series, they're still going to have butterflies, and they're still lining up against some of the best players in the country and the world, so to speak, in this age group," he said. "It's going to be hard softball, but it should be fun."

The fun is happening at Everest Park in Kirkland through the week. The championship game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.