Little League State Finals
Who: Hamilton West Side vs. North Canton
When: 2 p.m. today and, if necessary, noon Saturday
Where: Vic Janowicz Memorial Park, Elyria
At stake: Berth in Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis
The Hamilton West Side Little League All-Stars have two chances to win one state championship.
Emerging from the winners’ bracket, West Side can capture its fourth state title in the last five years with a victory against losers’ bracket survivor North Canton at 2 p.m. today at Vic Janowicz Park in Elyria.
If North Canton wins today, a winner-take-all game will be played at noon Saturday, July 31.
“We like the situation we’re in,” West Side coach Kenny Coomer said. “But we’re not gonna let them have the game if we get down. We’re still going to fight.”
West Side beat North Canton 9-4 Thursday in the winners’ bracket final with ace Jarod Morrison on the mound. Because of pitch-count rules, Morrison can’t pitch today, but he will be available Saturday.
Brooks Robinson will start today.
“Brooks is a good pitcher, and he beat (North Canton) twice last year,” Coomer said. “Hopefully the third time is a charm, too.”
Hamilton has outscored its opponents 51-11 in three state tournament games after outscoring its foes 83-1 in four District 9 contests.
West Side has been the dominant program in the state for the past decade, winning three of the last four state championships and five of eight.
“Teams that have been around awhile, like North Canton, they kind of like the whole enemy thing,” Coomer said when asked how the West Side program is perceived around the state. “Most teams will come up to you and talk about stuff, but North Canton is very private,” Coomer continued. “I’m not saying they’re not social. It’s just that they treat it as a big rivalry, which it is.”
If Coomer’s crew can add another title to the West Side legacy, the team will represent Ohio at the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis beginning next Friday, Aug. 6
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