IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers SAFE!- Simi Valley baserunner Adam Hammon slides into home, scoring Simi's lone run despite El Rio catcher Juan Magdaleno's effort during a 9- and 10-year-old All-Star game in Moorpark Wednesday afternoon. The El Rio team won, 12-1. The bunting is up, the chatter is loud, the fields are in tiptop condition, work schedules have been altered, and the bracketologists are putting in nearly as many hours as the volunteers at the snack shack.

It takes an entire community effort- or communities' efforts, to be more precise- to coordinate the Little League District 13 AllStar baseball playoffs.

With five of six district tournaments underway- 9/10, 10/11, 11/ 12, Juniors and Seniors; Big League hasn't started yet- a plethora of volunteers from host sites such as Moorpark, the Conejo Valley and Oxnard are absolutely necessary to help things run as smoothly as possible.

"It's all volunteers," said Bobby Stephens, tournament director for Thousand Oaks Little League, this year's host of the 11and 12-year-old All-Stars.

"Cutting the grass, umpires, announcers- it's a lot of man-hours. When we're not playing, we're here working. When we're playing, we're here. It's seven days a week."

In addition to TOLL, Conejo Valley Little League is hosting District 13's 10 and 11yearolds. Local 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars are playing at Moorpark Little League.

The Juniors are competing at Channel Islands High, while the Seniors and Big League tournaments are being held at Conejo Creek Ballpark in Thousand Oaks.

District championship games in each division will be conducted at midweek.

Moorpark Little League, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, will also host the 11 and 12yearold Section 1 tournament beginning July 12, as well as the 9and 10yearold Division 3 championships a week later.

Conejo Creek Ballpark will host the Division 3 Juniors tournament starting July 19.

National media exposure being what it has become, the 11/12 tournament is recognized as Little League's premier draw- hence, the best of the best play for a world title in Williamsport, Pa.

John Husted, tournament director for Moorpark Little League, said MPLL has been preparing for postseason play for at least two months. Although he's been involved in coordinating events for the past six years, Husted must always confront new challenges.

"This year the fields were the challenge, just because of the cut on the water from the drought that's going on," Husted said.

"We contemplated bringing in water trucks to water the field but were lucky enough that the school district offered to let us pay $10 a day for watering. It worked out great."

District 13 comprises teams from as far north as Oxnard, west toward Port Hueneme, south into Agoura Hills and as far east as Simi Valley.

Larry McEwen, a 15year volunteer who serves as assistant district administrator for District 13, estimates that close to 2,500 youngsters signed up to play this season. Only the top regularseason players make All-Stars.

While the competition can become fierce at times- both on the field and in the stands- and emotions are certain to stir, it's important to remember that the bottom line is these games involve kids competing against kids, Husted said.

"We want to teach them how to deal with the adversity of winning or losing, competitiveness, working together, how to play together, how to deal with some ups and downs," Husted said.

"And then we teach them baseball."

Bob Causey, head coach of the 11/12 team at Thousand Oaks Little League, had two weeks to prepare his squad for the doubleelimination tournament.

He said it's important to find balance between working hard and having fun.

"We've got a bunch of good, quality individuals, and we're just trying to make them into a team," Causey said. "Team chemistry and enjoying themselves is always key."

Tracking your favorite District 13 teams or tournaments has never been easier. The website www.cad13.info provides uptodate brackets for each division.