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How can West Side make the regional Little League semifinals?

Today's Kentucky-Michigan game key to outlining what West Side needs to do

Hamilton's Cameron Nunn (CQ) is greeted by his teammates as he crosses home plate after a two-run homer during their Little League Central Region tournament game against Michigan Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 at the Central Region Little League headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Hamilton was defeated 4-2 by Michigan.

Nick Graham/MIDDLETOWN JOURNAL Hamilton's Cameron Nunn (CQ) is greeted by his teammates as he crosses home plate after a two-run homer during their Little League Central Region tournament game against Michigan Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 at the Central Region Little League headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Hamilton was defeated 4-2 by Michigan.

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By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer Updated 7:57 AM Wednesday, August 12, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS — The West Side Little League team’s chances of advancing to the Great Lakes Regional semifinals are pretty good, and they’re also pretty confusing.

But by the time the players finish lunch today, they will know exactly what they have to do in tonight’s 7:30 pool-play finale against Indiana.

It could be a must-win, or the outcome could be irrelevant as long as West Side doesn’t allow a certain number of runs. Everything hinges on this morning’s game between Kentucky and Michigan.

“The competitor in me says I don’t want to back in,” West Side coach Mark Maus said. “I’d sure like to win to get in.”

The only thing certain is that Illinois (3-1) has wrapped up the No. 1 seed despite a 4-1 loss to Wisconsin (1-3) on Tuesday.

West Side (1-2) can finish as high as the No. 2 seed, or it can miss the semifinals altogether.

“Everything is wide open,” Maus said. “The good thing is Indiana (2-1) is pretty much in no matter what happens, so who knows, they may not throw their best guys against us in order to line up their pitching for the semifinals and finals.”

If Michigan (2-1) beats Kentucky (1-2) this morning, West Side would all but clinch a spot in the semifinals. Even if Kentucky only lost the game 1-0, West Side would need to surrender 14 runs in a six-inning game in order not to advance.

If Kentucky beats Michigan, then West Side is in a must-win situation against Indiana. But the good news with a Kentucky win would be that West Side could get the No. 2 seed by defeating Indiana in six full innings and allowing one fewer run than Michigan did against Kentucky.

“It’s too much to think about right now,” Maus said. “Let’s just go win the game and see how it shakes out.”

If you go

What: Great Lakes Regional
Who: West Side Little League (1-2) vs. Indiana (2-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stokely Field,  Indianapolis
Directions: I-74 west to I-465 north in Indianapolis. Follow I-465 for four miles and then go east on I-70 for one mile to the Post Road exit. Turn left on Post Road and follow it two miles to 38th Street. Make a right on 38th and go one mile to Mitthoeffer Road. Turn left on Mitthoeffer and travel half a mile. The complex will be on the left.

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