Just as Hancock and South Fort Myers 10-11 Little League squads were about to take the field Thursday for their District 9 championship game at Buckingham Park, the rain came in buckets.

After an hour of trying to dry the field in the face of more rain, league officials finally punted and the game was postponed to 6:30 p.m. Friday, again at Buckingham.

Hancock must beat South Fort Myers twice to win the 10-11 district championship. If Hancock wins Friday, they play again Saturday.

The teams were lucky to even get that far, as all District 9 games were rained out before many got to their respective fields.

Among the games scrubbed included the Major and Junior Cape Coral American/Cape National games, both of which carried importance, and Hancock’s Major game at Greater Pine Island.

Those games will be played Friday as well.

The rainout means the 9-10 Cape American team gets a second day off as they await the winner of Friday’s South Fort Myers-Fort Myers American contest. They play for the District 9 crown Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday.

As for the Majors, Hancock and Greater Pine Island have struggled at the bottom of the Pool 1 standings, with Pine Island the only winless team.

In Pool 2, Cape American and Cape National were both unbeaten, meaning Friday’s winner holds the hammer as the frontrunner.

In Juniors play, Hancock Black, one of two Hancock teams in the tournament, is 4-0 and has clinched Pool 1. Hancock Red is 1-2 and still mathematically alive, but needs to beat Port Charlotte National Friday and get some help to advance.

In Pool 2, Cape National has lost both its games and is eliminated. Cape American needs to beat Cape National to advance.

As for the rain that has plagued the area all week and left most area All-Star squads scrambling, District 9 Little League president Mert Leeman isn’t concerned about finishing these tournaments on time yet.

“Things aren’t critical yet. I’m not concerned. If I was, I would tell you,” Leeman said.