Hamilton West Side has earned a spot in the Little League World Series elimination-bracket finals. The team will face Iowa on Thursday, August 27, at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Hamilton West Side has won four straight elimination games and displayed strong performance in each. The team defeated Massachusetts 10-0 in just four innings, followed by a 6-1 win over Texas and a 5-2 victory against New Jersey.
The team is expected to rely on Leo Feltner as the starting pitcher in the finals, according to cincinnati.com. Feltner pitched a no-hitter to close out the Massachusetts game and has thrown 1.1 innings this tournament.
Hamilton West Side will look to continue its small-ball offensive success in the finals. Iowa’s top pitchers, Cooper Thissen and Anthony Johnson Jr., are both out for the game. Thissen leads the World Series with 25 strikeouts in nine innings. Johnson Jr. has pitched 6.1 shutout innings in the tournament.
Despite losing their star pitchers, Iowa’s offense remains a threat with both Thissen and Johnson hitting home runs in the tournament.
Hamilton West Side has made its way to the finals after a strong run through the elimination bracket, according to a report from Yahoo Sports. The team had previously beaten Alabama 11-2 in a game that marked its fourth win in elimination games. This win against Alabama was Ohio’s third since Monday afternoon.
Hamilton West Side has been dominant in the final moments of games, scoring runs late in matches. In one instance, Finn Dykes slid into home plate after a fielder’s choice to score. A sac fly from Boone Treadway brought in Zach Hilton, and a single by Leo Feltner scored Hudson Vonderheide.
Hamilton West Side’s defense was solid in the fourth inning, preventing Alabama from scoring. The team had runners on base but Alabama’s defense made key plays to keep the score low.
Hamilton West Side is no stranger to the World Series, having appeared in six finals and holding a record for most trips, cincinnati.com reported. The team has been on a strong run this year, placing itself among the program’s best teams in recent history.
The team’s performance in the elimination bracket has been consistent and aggressive. This final match against Iowa will be a quick turnaround for Hamilton West Side, as they had just played two games in three days.
The game is scheduled to begin at 9:32 PM ET on Thursday, August 26.
The team’s recent success in the tournament has been built on strong pitching and timely hitting. Hamilton West Side’s defense has proven capable of making crucial plays in high-pressure situations.
The team is expected to continue its aggressive style of play as it faces Iowa in the finals.
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