WHITESTOWN, Ind. — Hamilton West Side Little League has spent much of the Great Lakes Region Tournament showing how quickly one inning can change a game.
Monday night, Aug. 10, was no different.
West Side erased an early two-run deficit with a nine-run second inning and rolled past North Oldham, Kentucky, 11-4 at the Little League Central Region Complex, moving one victory away from another trip to Williamsport.
The Ohio state champions collected 10 hits and drew eight walks while improving to 3-0 in regional play. West Side will play in the Great Lakes Region winner-take-all championship game Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 against the winner of Tuesday’s elimination game between Jasper National (Indiana) and North Oldham.
“We’re swinging the bats like crazy,” West Side manager Tim Nichting said. “It seems like every game we just get a roll going one inning, and we just kill it. … We’re jacked up.”
West Side is searching for the sixth Little League World Series appearance in program history. The Hamilton program previously advanced to Williamsport in 1991, 1993, 2007, 2010 and 2021.
West Side, which has won 23 Ohio state titles, reached the regionals final last season after winning its first three games in Whitestown before falling to Illinois.
West Side struck first Monday when Josiah Infante delivered a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning.
North Oldham answered with three runs in the bottom half, taking advantage of a couple infield miscues by West Side.
The response was emphatic.
West Side sent nine runs across in the second. Caiden Trent drew a bases-loaded walk, another run scored on a passed ball and Boone Treadway ripped a two-run triple.
Leo Feltner followed with an RBI double, Infante doubled home two more and Xander Kinkade capped the outburst with a two-run homer to center field.
Just like that, a 3-1 deficit became a 10-3 West Side advantage.
“There’s no quit in them, man,” Nichting said. “We’ve been in that position a couple times now. … We swung the bat well again.”
Kinkade finished 2 for 2 and drove in a team-high three runs. Treadway, Bryson Williams and Kinkade each had two hits as West Side continued an offensive surge that has carried it through the regional tournament.
Williams contributed at the plate before taking over on the mound.
The right-hander worked 3 2/3 innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts and three walks. He also went 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored, earning the game ball from Nichting.
“Bryson’s just a tremendous athlete,” Nichting said. “He battled. He knew he didn’t have his good stuff pitching, but he battled through it.”
Williams said West Side’s ability to respond after the rough opening inning came from quickly refocusing.
“Coach talked to us and said we’ve got to focus,” Williams said. “Then we focused up.”
Bobby Frazier started for West Side and allowed three unearned runs on four hits over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three in his first significant pitching work since returning from a broken thumb.
“Bob battled his butt off,” Nichting said. “Coming off a broken thumb, he did all right. … I think Bob did excellent. I think Williams did excellent.”
West Side also turned two double plays, but Nichting said there will be plenty to address before Wednesday. The manager pointed specifically to defensive miscues and command on the mound as areas that need improvement.
“We were in the same position last year,” Nichting said. “Let’s hope we keep swinging it.”
