After winning their last 22 games and cruising to the Western Division title, the Lower Columbia College Red Devils were hoping they’d get a good draw in the opening round of the NWAACC Baseball Championships, which begin Thursday at David Story Field.

But instead of facing the second-place team from the Northern Division, the second-ranked Devils (35-6) open with division champ Skagit Valley (31-8) when they take the field in Thursday’s final game of the day at 7:35 p.m.

“Skagit won the best division, but they (the Cardinals) were involved in a league playoff which they lost,” LCC coach Kelly Smith said. “The Northern and Eastern divisions have a silly playoff which isn’t fair to the rest of the conference, because the league champ can lose and end up with the second berth.”

Last season, the Devils faced a similar situation when they played Wenatchee Valley in the tournament’s opening round. The Knights won the Eastern Division, but they came in as a second seed after falling to Columbia Basin in a league tournament.

“We had to face three first-place teams in a row last year (Wenatchee Valley, Edmonds and Mount Hood), and we may have that situation again,” Smith said. “We’d have to play Skagit eventually anyway, but we’d like to see them later when we don’t have to face their top pitcher (Northern Division MVP Braden Tullis).”

The Devils haven’t played since their doubleheader sweep of Pierce on May 10, and Smith has mixed feelings about his team sitting idle for 10 days before facing Skagit Valley.

“I don’t know if the time off is good or bad,” he said. “It gives us time to heal our injuries and our pitchers are fresher, but our hitters don’t have the opportunity to see live pitching. There’s also the worry of being over-ready.”

Smith’s troops, with the exception of pitchers Tyler Lichty, Mike Greene and outfielder Nic Shadle, don’t have a lot of postseason experience.

“Tyler Davis and Jeremy Lorence also platooned in the outfield (last year), but we don’t have many others with extensive experience,” Smith said. “Inexperience has been a concern all season, but these guys are better now and know how to win. They used to be afraid, but they’re not afraid anymore.”

Cody Fassold (8-0, 1.17 ERA) will start against Skagit Valley, and Lichty (5-0, 2.24) will get the nod in Friday’s game.

“Tyler deserves to start the second game because he’s less nervous than most of our other pitchers,” Smith said. “Our bullpen, including Mike Greene, Levi Dean, Drew Pettit and Alex Phillips, is good. We have some nicks and bruises, but it’s time to battle and everyone wants to play.”

If you go …

Who: The top eight community college teams in the Northwest (LCC, Skagit Valley, Clackamas, Columbia Basin, Mount Hood, Treasure Valley, Bellevue, Green River)

When: Thursday through Monday

Where: David Story Field at LCC

Tickets: For a two-game session, cost is $7 for adults, $4 for students/seniors and $3 for children ages 6-12; children under 6 are free.

Best value: Tourney passes for all 15 games are $25, with a family pass for a maximum of four available for $50. Individual VIP passes are $100, with access to the Red Lion Hotel hospitality tent. Tickets on sale at Red Lion Hotel, LCC student center office and at the gate.

On the air: LCC games on KLOG (1490), if there isn’t a conflict with the Mariners; otherwise, all games on www.klog.com

NWAACC Baseball Championships

at Lower Columbia College

Thursday

G1: Green River (28-14) vs. Bellevue (24-19), 9:35 a.m.

G2: Clackamas (24-21) vs. Columbia Basin (44-7), 12:35 p.m.

G3: Treasure Valley (26-25) vs. Mount Hood (33-6), 4:35 p.m.

G4: Skagit Valley (31-8) vs. Lower Columbia (35-6), 7:35 p.m.

Friday

G5: G1 loser vs. G2 loser (9:35 a.m.)

G6: G3 loser vs. G4 loser (12:35 p.m.)

G7: G1 winner vs. G2 winner (4:35 p.m.)

G8: G3 winner vs. G4 winner (7:35 p.m.)

Saturday

G9: G6 winner vs. G7 loser (11:05 a.m.)

G10: G5 winner vs. G8 loser (2:05 p.m.)

G11: G7 winner vs. G8 winner (7:05 p.m.)

Sunday

G12: G9 winner vs. G11 loser (2:05 p.m.)

G13: G10 winner vs. G11 winner (7:05 p.m.)

Monday

G14: G12 winner vs. G13 winner (12:05 p.m.)