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Throngs of supporters cheer on West Side

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Bill and Connie Mick (bottom left), the grandparents of Hamilton center fielder Cameron Nunn, were among the contingent of fans who followed the team to Indianapolis. Staff photo by Greg Lynch

Dedicated fans are making the drive to regional tournament in Indianapolis.

By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer Updated 2:30 PM Wednesday, August 12, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS — Hamilton resident Don Smith can sum up his passion for the West Side Little League team in just two letters:

“O-H.”

Smith’s frequent yells, of course, are followed by the obligatory “I-O” from hundreds of West Side fans who have been flocking to see their Ohio state champions compete in the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis.

“Katie Maus and I are probably the two loudest cheerleaders over here,” said Smith, a Michigan native and lifelong UM fan who grew up hating the O-H-I-O cheer made popular by Ohio State fans.

“I’m almost 40, and today is the first day in my life I’ve ever rooted against a Michigan team,” Smith said Monday after watching stepson Jacob Stewart and the rest of West Side team fall 4-2 to Michigan. “But it doesn’t bother me doing the cheer in this tournament. I love these boys. Every one of them.”

And so do a lot of other people, which is evident by the large number of fans who have been making the nearly two-hour drive for each of West Side’s three games in the regional tournament.

Tournament officials estimated the West Side crowd at 700 for Friday’s opener, and flocks of fans made the trip for the Saturday and Monday morning games as well.

“I had four or five calls at 7 this morning asking for a ride and I had to tell them my van’s already full,” former West Side Little League president Jerry Lauer said after watching Monday’s game.

“I’m not surprised at all by the turnout,” Lauer added. “People in Hamilton love baseball, and there’s a lot of excitement for this tournament.”

Each of the teams in Indianapolis — six in the Great Lakes Regional and six in the Midwest Regional — have the standard following of parents, grandparents, etc.

But the West Side team also draws hundreds of fans who don’t share a bloodline with any of the players.

“I just wanted to come support the team,” said Heath Stricker, 15, who competed in the Great Lakes Regional on the 2006 West Side team that came within one game of playing in the ESPN-televised championship game.

“It brings back a lot of memories coming over here again,” Stricker added. “Hopefully these guys can go all the way.”

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

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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