EPHRATA - This year's Senior Babe Ruth World Series held at Johnson O'Brien Stadium at Ephrata High School includes two Columbia Basin teams.

The Columbia Basin River Dogs were automatically placed into the tournament as the host team and the Desert Dogs earned their way into the national tournament after winning the Washington Baseball Open last month. The Desert Dogs enter the tournament with a 40-25 record.

The River Dogs includes players from Ephrata, Warden, Moses Lake as well as other central Washington towns.

The World Series, which features elite 16-18 year-old baseball players, kicks off today with the Desert Dogs playing the Klamath Falls, Ore. Cardinals at 5 p.m., followed by the River Dogs game against San Gabriel Valley, Calif. at 8 p.m.

The tournament includes team from Massachusetts, Indiana, Texas, California, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania and the defending champion Rawdogs from Mobile, Ala. In all, 25 games will be played during this year's world series.

A Breakfast of Champions will be at 8 a.m. Friday at St. Rose of Lima school gym and opening ceremonies will be 7 p.m. Friday.

The Championship game will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 14. For a complete schedule and rosters visit www.ephrataworldseries.com.