West Side secures 26th straight title

Hamilton shortstop Landon Stephens fields a ground ball during the District 9 Little League championship game Monday.

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Hamilton shortstop Landon Stephens fields an Anderson Township ground ball during their District 9 Little league championship game at East Hamilton-Fairfield Little League Complex at Crawford Woods park in Hamilton Monday, July 19, 2010.

Staff photo by E.L. Hubbard Hamilton shortstop Landon Stephens fields an Anderson Township ground ball during their District 9 Little league championship game at East Hamilton-Fairfield Little League Complex at Crawford Woods park in Hamilton Monday, July 19, 2010.

West Side caps  District 9 tourney run with 13-1 victory over Anderson Township.

By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer Updated 9:58 AM Tuesday, July 20, 2010

HAMILTON — One streak ended, but the more important one continued for the West Side Little League team.

Anderson Township scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning to end West Side’s string of 16 consecutive scoreless innings in the District 9 Tournament.

But Bryce Couch hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the fifth to lift West Side to 13-1 run-rule victory that gave the program its 26th consecutive District 9 championship.

“I wanted the shutout, but you know, you can’t be greedy,” West Side coach Kenny Coomer said. “We only gave up one run and two hits all tournament.”

West Side outscored its opponents 81-1 on the way to the championship that earns the squad a berth in the state tournament beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday in Elyria.

West Side figures to be the favorite to win state and advance to the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis after winning back-to-back state titles as 10- and 11-year-olds in undefeated fashion.

“Mount Vernon and North Canton are really good and we know they’re going to be gunning for us, so state’s going to be a challenge,” said West Side pitcher Jarod Morrison, who struck out 13 Anderson Township batters while allowing just one hit.

Offensively, West Side was a little slow to get started against Anderson Township, failing to score in the first inning for the squad’s first open frame of the tournament. And it was just 5-0 after three innings.

But the West Side bats eventually caught up with Anderson Township pitcher Joe Huster, especially Couch’s.

He blasted a two-run homer in the fourth before ending the game with the grand slam in the fifth.

“I don’t really remember the last time I hit a grand slam,” said Couch, who also tripled as part of his 3-for-4, six-RBI night.

Brooks Robinson (3-for-3, RBI, run), Landon Stephens (2-for-4, double, run), Cole Heflin (2-for-3, double, RBI, two runs), Sam Scott (1-for-2, run), Christian Halcomb (1-for-2, double) and Tyler Hannah (RBI) also contributed to West Side’s 13-hit attack.

The Anderson Township team stayed on the field even after the trophy presentations ended and applauded while West Side parents were taking pictures of the winners with the championship banner.

“It was the right thing to do,” Anderson Township coach Jim Lambert said. “Win or lose, this is Little League, and it was the sportsmanlike thing to do.

“Hamilton’s going to represent District 9 well at the state tournament, and hopefully beyond,” he added. “We hope to see them on ESPN.”

»Photo gallery online at Journal-News.com

»Box score on B2

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