West Side All-Stars win another state championship

Team rolls to title with 13-0 run-rule win over North Canton.

Hamilton West Side Little League defeated North Canton 13-0 to claim the State Championship, in Elyria, Friday, July 30. Hamilton next plays in the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis.

Photos: West Side at state, regional

By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer Updated 10:12 PM Friday, July 30, 2010

ELYRIA — The Hamilton West Side Little League All-Stars pulled off a rare daily double Friday, July 30, by both making history, and repeating it.

With a 13-0 run-rule victory against North Canton at Vic Janowicz Memorial Park in Elyria, the West Side All-Stars became the first group of players in Ohio history to win state titles as 10-year-olds, 11-year-olds and 12-year-olds.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” West Side coach Kenny Coomer said. “(Assistant coach Tim Nichting) and I have been coaching together for a long time, but we’ve never had the opportunity to coach the same team from the age of 10 all the way until they’re 12.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these players,” Coomer continued. “And to be able to do it with Tim, somebody who’s been doing this for a long time, it’s an honor.”

The team also repeated history by earning the West Side program its second consecutive 12U state championship and fourth in the last five years.

And this one was never in doubt as West Side sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the first inning to jump out a 5-0 lead.

“I’m glad their coach (Storm Koelbe) picked home after he won the toss,” Coomer said. “I was gonna pick visitors anyway. We knew they had a good pitcher, and we wanted to try to jump on him early and get them in trouble.”

Jarod Morrison and Ryan Robinson had RBI hits, Sam Scott followed with a two-run single and Alex Schutter scored on a wild pitch to start the rout.

“It feels really awesome to win another championship,” said Morrison, who added a three-run home run during a six-run second inning that buried North Canton in an 11-0 hole.

The victory sends West Side to the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis, beginning Friday. Hamilton will battle the state champs from Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois, with the winner advancing to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

“I watched last year’s team play in Indianapolis, and all I could think about was ‘That’s going to be me next year,’ “ said winning pitcher Brooks Robinson, who threw four shutout innings and went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Robinson also was the winning pitcher in last year’s state championship game and winners’ bracket final, both against North Canton.

The other members of the state champion Hamilton West Side All-Stars include Landon Stephens (3-for-4, two runs), Cole Heflin (2-for-4, double, two runs), Bryce Couch (1-fo-3, two runs), Tyler Hannah (run), Christian Halcomb (1-for-1), Garrett Hogan (run) and Jake Jones.

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

Great Lakes Regional

When: Aug. 6-14

Where: Ruben F. Glick Little League Baseball Center, Indianapolis

Schedule:

Pool Play

Friday, Aug. 6, vs. Kentucky, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 7, vs. Illinois, 2 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 8, vs. Indiana, 4 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 9, vs. Wisconsin, 2 p.m.

Single-Elimination Semifinals

Wednesday Aug. 11, 12 p.m. or 4 p.m.