State Schedule/Results
Here are the schedule and results for the double-elimination Ohio Little League 12-year-old baseball tournament at the Fields of Dreams complex, located at 410 McClurg Road in Boardman:
Saturday, July 16
Hamilton West Side 12, Washington Court House 1, four innings
Canfield 12, Tallmadge 1, four innings
Galion 6, Guernsey County 1
New Albany 6, Maumee 2
Sunday, July 17
Hamilton West Side 13, Jefferson 0, four innings
Canfield 10, Minford 1
Tuscarawas County 14, Galion 5
Maumee 4, Guernsey County 1
Monday, July 18
Hamilton West Side 11, Tuscarawas County 0
Washington Court House 4, Minford 3
Canfield 6, New Albany 1
Tuesday, July 19
Hamilton West Side 2, Canfield 0
Tallmadge 4, Jefferson 2
Maumee 17, Washington Court House 9
Wednesday, July 20
Tallmadge 11, Galion 9
Maumee 8, Tuscarawas County 7
Thursday, July 21
Game 15 — Tallmadge vs. New Albany, field No. 1, 2 p.m.
Friday, July 22
Game 18 — Game 15 winner vs. Maumee, field No. 1, 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 23
Losers’ Bracket Final
Game 19 — Game 18 winner vs. Canfield, field No. 1, noon
Sunday, July 24
Championship
Game 20 — Hamilton West Side vs. Game 19 winner, field No. 1, noon
Game 21 (if necessary) — Game 20 winner vs. Game 20 loser, field No. 1, 2 p.m.
The waiting game has started for Hamilton West Side.
The locals have qualified for Sunday's finals of the Ohio Little League 12-year-old baseball tournament at Boardman's Fields of Dreams, but after emerging from the winners' bracket with a 2-0 victory over Canfield on Tuesday, Hamilton was looking at four off days.
West Side coach Tim Nichting’s immediate response was three practices Wednesday.
“We’re going to do three today just to make sure we stay focused,” Nichting said after the first practice at the Howland Athletic Club complex. “We didn’t swing the bat very well last night, so we worked on swinging the bat today. We’re going to keep them busy with baseball.”
The state tournament has been a mostly smooth ride for Hamilton, which is seeking its 16th 12-year-old state championship.
West Side has outscored its four opponents 38-1. And the only run allowed was unearned.
“It’s definitely been surprising to be that dominant,” Nichting admitted. “Me and (assistant coach) Kenny (Coomer) put a lot of time in this, so I think the kids are coming around.”
RELATED COVERAGE
<<< West Side 11, Tuscarawas County 0
<<< West Side 12, Washington Court House 1
Has Hamilton been that good? Or is the competition not as strong this year?
“I’m going to answer that with both,” Nichting said. “The talent might be down a little bit, and my pitchers have thrown well. Earlier my hitting was putting on a show, but when push (came) to shove, Maddox Pennington was a bear yesterday. Hitting was down a little bit, so hopefully when we come to the finals, we’ll bring our sticks out.”
Pennington tossed a four-hitter against Canfield, and Nichting is leaning toward starting him in the title game Sunday at noon. If West Side loses that contest, another final would follow at 2 p.m. in the double-elimination event.
Through Wednesday’s play, Canfield, Maumee, Tallmadge and New Albany are still alive in the losers’ bracket.
“You never know,” said Nichting, noting that Hamilton came out of the losers’ bracket to take the state crown last year. “We’re going to do everything possible to make sure we’re ready to win Sunday.”
Coomer calls pitches for West Side, though he shares pitching-coach duties with Chad Pennington and Curtus Moak.
Pennington, Micaden Stephens, Cayden Evans, Braedyn Moore and Matthew Goll have done Hamilton’s pitching in Boardman. Coomer said that crew has deserved more notice for its overall showing.
The key to his pitching staff?
“Throw strikes and keep ’em off balance,” Coomer said. “We have to work at the corners and give what the umpire gives us and work from there. We’re not going to come out and strike you out 10, 12 times, but we’ll throw strikes and let our defense play.”
West Side’s offense has generally been very good in the state tourney.
Hamilton is hitting .449 as a team. Six players — Curtus Moak (.667), Evans (.583), Pennington (.583), Landyn Vidourek (.500), Jordan Jones (.500) and Landon Herrmann (.500) — are hitting .500 or better. And nine West Side players have combined for 14 home runs.
About the Author