The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

West Side begins state quest

All-Stars open tournament play in Englewood.

Hamilton West Side pitcher Korren Thompson gave up one earned run while pitching a complete game no-hitter July 10 during the District 9 Little League tournament game against Hamilton/Fairfield in Hamilton Twp. Contributed photo by Robert Leifheit

Stringer Hamilton West Side pitcher Korren Thompson gave up one earned run while pitching a complete game no-hitter July 10 during the District 9 Little League tournament game against Hamilton/Fairfield in Hamilton Twp. Contributed photo by Robert Leifheit

ENLARGE PHOTO

Mesoraco's slam sends Reds over Braves
7:38 a.m.
Lost chances cost Cougars
5/25/12
Badin advances to regional final
5/25/12
West hopes to keep winning
5/25/12
Is third time the charm for senior?
5/25/12
> More sports headlines

By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer 1:01 AM Saturday, July 23, 2011

HAMILTON — The comparisons are only normal, and they exist both internally and externally.

Can this group of Hamilton West Side Little League All-Stars be as good as last year’s group that went to the Little League World Series?

Another big step in that quest begins today when West Side faces Maumee in its state tournament opener at 4 p.m. at Centennial Park in Englewood.

One glaring difference between the 2010 and 2011 West Side teams is last year’s squad went 3-for-3 in winning state championships. The current team has yet to win one, finishing with a 2-2 record as 10-year-olds in 2009 and losing in the championship game last year as 11s.

“They know they haven’t won one yet, but they also know they’ve been right on the edge,” said West Side manager Josh Sams, referring to last year when the team lost in the first round and battled all the way back to force the if-necessary game in the double-elimination format.

West Side was one pitch away from a title when a North Canton batter hit a walkoff two-run home run.

“They got a good taste of what it’s all about last year,” Sams said. “They had it in their hands last year and they let it go. They really want this. They’re psyched up.”

North Canton and West Side are considered the favorites again, along with Mount Vernon. West Side got a fortunate draw with a first-round bye, something that eluded Mount Vernon, which likely will be West Side’s opponent in the winners’ bracket semifinals Monday night.

“It’s a huge advantage for us,” Sams said. “Mount Vernon would be playing their third on Monday while we would just be playing our second. We could be seeing their No. 3 pitcher, while we could throw our No. 2, or maybe No. 1.”

Sams said he plans to start staff ace Korren Thompson today against Maumee. But there isn’t much of a drop off with No. 2 Shaun Brandenburg, arguably the team’s best overall player who has missed each of the last two state tournaments with injuries.

The earliest West Side would see co-favorite North Canton would be in the winners’ bracket final Friday, unless both teams get upset and end up meeting in the losers bracket.

The winner of the state tournament advances to the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis where it will represent Ohio against teams from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. The winner of the regional advances to the Little League World Series, something West Side teams have done twice in the last four years.

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

Today’s game

What: Ohio Little League Tournament

Who: Hamilton West Side vs. Maumee

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Centennial Park, 321 Union Blvd., Englewood

Directions: I-75 North to I-70 West. Take Exit 29 (Ohio 48) toward Dayton/Englewood. Turn right on Ohio 48 (Main St.). Take first left onto W. Wenger Road. Turn right onto Union Blvd.

Share this article