Little League notebook: West Side catcher sings national anthem

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By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer 10:13 PM Saturday, August 13, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — The Hamilton West Side Little League team’s day may have ended on a sour note, but it began with some sweet ones.

West Side catcher Alex Weller and his grandfather, John, sang the national anthem prior to Saturday’s 3-0 loss in the Great Lakes Regional championship game in Indianapolis.

“He mentioned that he had done some musicals, so I told him he should sing the anthem,” said Ken Welborn, West Side’s team host during the tournament. “I asked him if he’d rather do it for another game or one of his, and he said he wanted to do it at one of his own games.”

Alex and John received a rousing ovation from the standing-room-only crowd at Stokely Field.

“I didn’t want to do it alone, so my mom (Miranda) came up with the idea of doing it with my grandpa,” Alex said. “I sang it at my school once, but never at a game. It was fun.”

• Gut check: Forget the 300-foot bomb Kentucky’s Griffin McLarty hit in the fifth inning. The most impressive at-bat of the game belonged to Kentucky second baseman Nick McKinney.

Hitting in the top of the fourth inning as West Side pitcher Korren Thompson was nearing the pitch limit, McKinney fouled off six pitches in a 11-pitch plate appearance, five of which came after the count was already full.

After the ninth pitch, McKinney stepped out of the batter’s box and threw up.

“I felt fine before the game, but I think the heat got to me and I kind of got a little nervous,” McKinney said.

Coach Brad Bates came over and talked to him while assistant coach Wayne McKinney, Nick’s dad, brought him some water.

After a short delay, McKinney stepped back in and drew ball four to put runners on first and second, continuing the rally that saw Kentucky score its second run.

• Kentucky king: In the 11 years since the Great Lakes Regional was formed, teams from Kentucky have won the championship five times, more than any other state. Ohio has three, Indiana two and Illinois one.

Kentucky teams have gone 41-18 in Great Lakes play, by far the best record among the six states in the region. Indiana is a distant second at 35-25. Ohio is third (31-25).

• Celebration set: The West Side team will be honored for its successful tournament run at 5 p.m. today at Walt’s Barbecue.

Mayor Pat Moeller is scheduled to speak, and the event is open to the public.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.

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