Hamilton West Side falls in extra innings in regional opener

West Side loses 3-0 lead in final innings

Hamilton West Side lost 4-3 to Silver Creek (Ind.) Sunday morning in the opening game of the Little League Great Lakes Regional at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Ind.

» PHOTOS: West Side through the years

The winning run scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning. Preston Burton opened the inning with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a dropped third strike.

West Side will play its second game in the double-elimination tournament at 10 a.m. Tuesday. It will face the Michigan, Wisconsin or Illinois champion. Silver Creek will play its second game at 10 a.m. Monday against the Kentucky champion.

West Side took the lead against Silver Creek with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. A two-out, bases-loaded single to right-center field by pinch hitter Xander Arnold scored Peyton Davis and Cam Carter.

One batter later, Brooks Treadway singled to shortstop, scoring Eli Wolpert. The first-base umpire first ruled Treadway out, but he was ruled safe on review.

» PREVIEW: West Side gets ‘crash course’ in playing on turf

Silver Creek got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. A two-out double by Cullen Garloch scored Karson Cook and Burton.

In the bottom of the sixth Silver Creek tied the game and almost won it. A bases-loaded single by Cook scored Jack Murphy. Spencer Durham, who would have scored the game-winning run, was thrown out at home on the play.

Connor Cuozzo started for West Side and allowed one earned run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He had the team’s only extra-base hit, a two-out triple in the seventh.

The Great Lakes champion will play in the Little League World Series, which takes place Aug. 15-25 in Williamsport, Pa.

About the Author