The Nunaka Valley Little League junior girls softball team begins its quest for a world championship today in Kirkland, Wash.

Nunaka Valley plays Bridge City, Texas, at 4 p.m. in the Junior Softball World Series.

The game at Everest Park kicks off four straight days of pool-play for Nunaka Valley, which qualified for the 10-team tournament -- the pinnacle of the sport for girls ages 13-14 -- by winning the Alaska state championship and the West Region championship.

It's the second time in three years a group of girls from Nunaka Valley has made it to a World Series. Coach Richard Knowles coached many of this year's players on the 2009 team that played in the Little League Softball World Series for girls ages 11-12. Nunaka Valley finished 1-3 in pool play that year in Portland, Ore.

Today's opponent is already 1-0 in the tournament. Bridge City, the Southwest Region champion, took a 8-7 win Sunday over Greensburg, Pa., the East Region champion.

The tournament features two pools with five teams each. Semifinals are Friday and the championship -- which will be aired by ESPN -- is Saturday.