Universal (Corpus Christi), Texas West
Overall 2013 Record: 11-1
Southwest Pool Play/Dbl Elim Record: (Since 2002): 23-10
Regional Stats
Team ERA: 2.00
Team K/6: 9.8
Team Batting Avg: .344 (7 players over .300)
Team Errors Per Game: 1.4
Key Players: Jacob Garza (.538, 3 HR, 10.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs), Jesus Ortiz (.562, 5 HR)
Overview: Universal's first trip to the Little League World Series looks like it could be a successful one. Garza and Ortiz are dominant at the plate, and Garza is a great option on the mound. Universal is in the tougher of the two US brackets, but has some options to play around with pitching-wise. I see them making a good run. Universal came out of one of the toughest pools in the country along with the other Texas champion and Louisiana. To do that in three days meant pitching depth. When you have someone of Juan Sosa's ability and yet he doesn't get a start in five games means Universal can certainly get it done with its pitching.
NORTHWEST
Eastlake (Sammamish), Washington
Overall 2013 Record: 19-1
Northwest Pool Play/D.E. Record (Since 2002): 17-16 (12-15 without Hawaii)
Regional Stats
Team ERA: 2.29
Team K/6: 9.4
Team Batting Avg: .414 (10 players over .300)
Team Errors Per Game: 1.16
Key Players: Jacob Dahlstrom (.294, 4 HR, 11 IP, 22 K)
Overview: For all the offense that Eastlake produced during the Northwest Regional, only three players left the yard. Dahlstrom took Northwest pitching deep four times over the six games. This team knows how to hit and get on base. 10 players batting over .300 is unheard of, especially when your best pitcher/power hitter, Dahlstrom, isn't one of them. Eastlake is from a strong district in Washington with teams that have advanced to the LLWS previously including Mercer Island, Redmond North, and of course Kirkland National. That district plus needing to win eight straight games in the losers bracket of the state tournament means Eastlake is battle-tested. I think they're easily the weakest of the four teams inside its mini-bracket, however.
SOUTHEAST
South Nashville, Tennessee
Overall 2013 Record: 15-3
Southeast Pool Play/D.E Record (Since 2002): 23-12
Regional Stats
Team ERA: 2.07
Team K/6: 11.2
Team Batting Avg: .361 (7 players over .300)
Team Errors Per Game: 1.6
Key Players: Ben Pickman (.667, 2 HR, 10.2 IP, 21 K)
Overview: The Southeast region is always tough, so looking into stats doesn't usually help, but South Nashville has two glaring issues. They give up a lot of Walks + Hits per Inning and they don't hit for extra bases. On the other hand, Every single win that South Nashville has, they were on the brink of elimination. This team knows how to win when necessary. Trae McLemore is a big presence on the mound and at the plate. Pickman might have the most hits in the entire country with 12 in the regionals. He's a pure baseball player. Chris McElvain is another big bat for South Nashville.
NEW ENGLAND
Westport, CT
Overall 2013 Record: 18-0
New England Pool Play/D.E. Record (Since 2002): 15-17
Regional Stats
Team ERA: 1.03
Team K/6: 12.0
Team Batting Avg: .311 (7 players over .300)
Team Errors Per Game: 0.83
Key Players: Chad Knight (0.92 ERA, 31 K in 13 IP, 4 H), Harry Azadian (11.2 IP, 22 K, 0.00 ERA)
Overview: Westport possibly has the best 1-2 punch on the mound in the Little League World Series. They play some of the best defense anywhere and they have power up and down the lineup. Connecticut's issue might be its offensive consistency. Five different players hit homers in the regional, but nobody more than one. Seven players are hitting above .300 but it never seems like everyone hits together. Westport has the ability to be the first New England team since 1996 to win the US title, but they need to get hot at the plate.
WEST
Eastlake (Chula Vista), California
Overall 2013 Record: 18-1
West Pool Play/D.E. Record (Since 2002): 28-9
Regional Stats
Team ERA: 1.41
Team K/6: 10.8
Team Batting Avg: .364 (7 players over .300, including 5 over .400)
Team Errors Per Game: 1.00
Key Players: Grant Holman (.524, 10 runs scored, 12.2 IP, 28 Ks, 0.00 ERA), Nick Mora (.562, HR, 10.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 15/1 K/BB ratio), Giancarlo Cortez (.368, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
Overview: This is the United States favorite by far. They have two dominant pitchers, they score runs like nobody else against other dominant pitching. They have a lineup that is excellent 1-5. Micah Pietila-Wiggs and Jake Espinoza are great table setters. Six different players have homered in the regional. This team isn't as homer happy as Park View LL from Chula Vista in 2009, but they were actually more dominant from district to section to state to region than that team was. They have a chance to be scary good.
GREAT LAKES
Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores, Michigan
Overall 2013 Record: 13-2
Great Lakes Pool Play/D.E. Record (Since 2002): 11-22
Regional Stats
Team ERA: 2.91
Team K/6: 9.4
Team Batting Avg: .257 (5 players over .300)
Team Errors Per Game: 0.83
Key Players: Chad Lorkowski (.471, 3 HR, 11.1 IP, 25 Ks), Antonio Moceri (.500, 2 HR)
Overview: Chad Lorkowski carried GPWS in the championship game of the Great Lakes regional, and he'll need to continue that type of performance if Michigan wants to have any success at the LLWS this year. Offensively, the team has struggled during states and regionals. More players were hitless than hit over .300 in Indianapolis. Defense and pitching need to lead the way.
MID-ATLANTIC
Newark National, Delaware
Overall 2013 Record: 11-1
Mid-Atlantic Pool Play/D.E. Record (Since 2002): 14-20
Regional Stats
Team ERA: 3.64
Team K/6: 8.4
Team Batting Avg: .346 (8 players over .300)
Team Errors Per Game: 0.83
Key Players: Nate Hardcastle (.556, 2 HR, 14 IP, 27 K, 0.43 ERA), Joe Davis (.389, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
Overview: Delaware's success hinges on Hardcastle and Davis in multiple ways. They're both phenomenal hitters, Hardcastle has a dominant fastball on the mound, and Davis needs to step up as the number two pitcher. Hardcastle is talented enough to beat anyone when he's pitching, but without him on the mound Delaware struggles. Newark's ERA without Hardcastle is 6.00 and its WHIP is 2.10. How Newark uses its pitching, or gets its overall command under control will determine Delaware's fate.
MIDWEST
Urbandale, Iowa
Overall 2013 Record: 19-4
Midwest Pool Play/D.E. Record (Since 2002): 3-28
Regional Stats
Team ERA: 1.80
Team K/6: 9.0
Team Batting Avg: .277 (7 players over .300)
Team Errors Per Game: 0.83
Key Players: Lucas Strain (.400, 8 runs scored), Carter Troncin (.368, 1 HR)
Overview: Iowa's pitching is obviously its strength. Brady Roberts pitched in five of the six games including the upset victory over Minnesota in the final. Sam Young and Grant Garwood are also solid on the mound. The team only slugged .353 and hit two home runs. The power numbers need to improve if Iowa wants to compete and improve on the Midwest's track record.
Predictions
Round 1: Southwest over Northwest, New England over Southeast, West over Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic over Midwest.
Winners Bracket Round 2: Southwest over New England, West over Mid-Atlantic.
Losers Bracket Round 2: New England beats Great Lakes, Southeast beats Mid-Atlantic
Losers Bracket Round 3: New England beats Southeast
US Final Four: West over Southwest, Southwest over New England.
US Championship: West over Southwest
CLICK HERE: Help Little League Insider Get to Williamsport
You can listen to Little League Insider Radio from Sunday for a bit of an initial LLWS preview. I also did an interview on WRAK radio in Williamsport and discussed all the teams and their chances at winning some first round games. That interview isn't available for replay, but will be on WRAK a few times during the week. I'm hoping to get a schedule.
Listen to previous episodes of Little League Insider Radio
Episode 1
Episode 2
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