HAMILTON — The West Side Little League 12U All-Stars have been zoned in all summer.
“Our biggest thing is focus — whether it’s at the plate, watching the pitcher or whatever you do,” West Side manager Ken Coomer said. “Just give it all you’ve got — mentally and physically.”
West Side is doing just that as the team is making another trip to the Great Lakes Regional in Whitestown, Indiana. West Side plays the Kentucky-Michigan winner at 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 4, on ESPN+.
The regional tournament runs through Aug. 7, with the winner getting a bid to the Little League World Series.
West Side reached the Little League World Series in 1991, 1993, 2007, 2010 and 2021. The 2024 Little League World Series takes place in Williamsport, Penn., Aug. 14-25.
“It’s incredible,” said Cash Jones, an outfielder and pitcher. “Once in a lifetime. It’s just great.
“We’re practicing every single day. All the energy that we give. We hustle, and we never quit.”
The West Side pitching staff has been stellar in all six tournament wins, and its defense surrenders just 1.3 runs a game. West Side beat New Albany 6-1 last Thursday to win its 21st state title.
“Our defense has been helping us out a lot,” shortstop Jordan Malloy said. “It’s been our teamwork and what we do every single day. We run to get the work in and get conditioned. The coaches put us in a very good spot.”
West Side’s bats have done the job, too. The team scores 12.1 runs a game. Third baseman Braydon Caudill leads the way at the plate, going 9 for 15 with eight runs scored and six RBIs.
“If you look at our practice right now, we’ve got five kids out there that have played with us the last couple years and still want to be a part of this,” Coomer said during the team’s last practice on Wednesday before traveling to Indiana for regionals. “They’ve come back to help us out and pitch to the kids. They kind of act like mentors to the kids because a lot of these older kids played when they were younger. So, they look up to them. That’s what kind of makes our program kind of successful. It’s just like a tradition — a good program.
“It’s a system. We feel that if you follow the program, you will succeed. Not saying you’re going to win all the time, but for the most part, we finish pretty well.”
Coomer, who has coached youth baseball for close to 30 years, said the most exciting part about watching his players advance in the tournament is the experience.
“This is something that the kids are never going to forget,” Coomer said. “I have kids who I coached 20 years ago come back and say, ‘Hey, Coach. Remember blah, blah, blah?’ It’s always going to be in your head. You’re always going to have a good memory — hope it’s a good memory — that will stick with them until the end.”
When asked what it will take for West Side to get back to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Coomer said it’s simple.
“Just teamwork. Keep focusing on working hard. Work hard, work hard,” Coomer stated. “It’s the message, and when I say processes, we implement everything every single year just about the same.
“So, now, you only have to change certain things. But for the most part, it’s just a lot of reps, getting the kids focused and disciplined. Discipline’s a big thing. It takes a little while for some kids to adjust to discipline the way we do it. But once they get used to us and get them focused in, it seems to work.”
Here’s a look at the rest of the Great Lakes Regional field:
MICHIGAN: Tecumseh Area went 3-0 in pool play before beating Grosse Pointe Farms, Georgetown and Richmond to win the Michigan state title.
KENTUCKY: Bowling Green East went 3-0 in pool play of Kentucky’s state tournament. Bowling Green knocked off Lexington Eastern 4-3 and North Oldham 1-0 to win the state title.
ILLINOIS: Hinsdale went 3-0 in tournament pool play to advance to the Illinois state quarterfinals. Hinsdale only allowed five runs on its way to capture the state title.
INDIANA: Jasper went 5-0 and defeated Munster 4-1 to win the Indiana state championship.
