It's Nitty Gritty Time... Regional Fields Getting Full (7/23/14)

Another slew of state championships has been handed out. There are not many spots left in the country. The countdown to the East Regional has begun on my internal clock. Let's get right into it.


Michigan

Midland Northeast completed the trifecta today. After winning the Michigan state title as 10s and 11s, Northeast battled through the single elimination Elite Eight and beat Byron 6-5 in walk-off fashion. Carter Knochel ripped a two-out bases loaded single to win the championship. Matt Schummer picked up the win on the mound.

Georgia

Peachtree City National beat the two Georgia powerhouses on consecutive days to win the state championship. First, they came from behind to knock off Warner Robins American in the semifinal, and then crushed Columbus Northern 12-1 today on the back of home runs by Calin Smith, Shep Hancock, and Bo Hogeboom. Beating WRALL and Northern is no joke. Watch out for PTC.

Kentucky

Warren County Southern won its second state title in three years and third since 2007 by beating Paintsville 5-2. Charlie Key struck out 13 batters in the victory. Mac Ausbrooks hit a home run in the victory and Adam Burns had two RBI. Gage Holman added an RBI triple.

Indiana

Cooper Biven struck out 13 in a two-hit shutout in New Albany's 2-0 victory over Highland to send NA to the Great Lakes regional for the first time since 2007. Biven and his teammates won the state title as 10-year olds too.

New Jersey

Ocean City-Upper Township combined into one league this year and the results have been spectacular. OCUT took down Somerset Hills in the first round of the state final four, 9-4, to reach the winners bracket final. In the other game, Wood-Ridge/Moonachie surprised heavy tournament favorite, Toms River, with a first-inning grand slam but Jon Giordano entered the game and slammed the door as Toms River battled back to win 7-4.

Maine

The defending state champions, Saco/Maremont, have battled back through the losers bracket to reach the state title game. They knocked off Bronco LL 11-5 in the losers bracket final with back-to-back-to-back home runs from Kobe Gaudette, Ben Ham, and Grant Dow. Luke Ham launched a home run later in the game as well for Saco. Saco will need to beat Falmouth twice to reclaim the state title.

Southern California

The toughest state in the country is almost coming to a head as the sub-division finals kicked off tonight. Ocean View took down Encinitas 6-4 to force an "if" game in the south sub-division final. In the north, Thousand Oaks did the same by beating Long Beach.

Pennsylvania

There's just three teams left in Pennsylvania and they're definitely the three best teams in the state. Taney and Collier Township's winners bracket final will be replayed tomorrow after only two batters coming to the plate (back-to-back hits for Collier). The reason for the postponement may have to do with Red Land who ripped eight home run balls into the atmosphere, bringing the rains, in a 15-4 victory over Back Mountain American. Red Land put together its THIRD inning of 10 runs in the state tournament.

Ohio

Hamilton West Side is looking for its 10th state title since the year 2000. Apparently nobody else plays baseball in Ohio? Anyway, West Side hasn't allowed a hit in three game in the state tournament but takes on Canfield in the winners bracket final this week. Canfield beat HWS for the state title as 10s. HWS returned the favor as 11s.


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