World Series Previews (Part 2)

SOUTHEAST

Warner Robins American East, Georgia

Overall 2011 Team Record: 15-0
Southeast Pool Play History (Since 2002): 17-10
Georgia Pool Play History: 9-3 (LLWS Champions in 2006, 2007)

Team ERA: 2.00
Team Batting Avg: .275  (4 players over .300)

Key Players: Jake Fromm (25K's in 11.2 Inn, 1.59 ERA, .438, 2 HR (only HRs for team), 8 RBI)

Projections:Warner Robins will go as far as the "Man Child" takes them. Fromm is a monster on the mound, and was the team's most productive hitter. In fact, for all the talk about Warner Robins competing for the LLWS title, the team is extremely weak with the bats. If Warner Robins plays their cards right though, it's possible that Fromm will only need to beat two tough teams. Southwest on opening night and West in the US championship. If that's the case, we could be looking at yet another team from Georgia being the US champions.

SOUTHWEST

Lafayette, Louisiana

Overall 2011 Team Record: 12-0
Southwest Pool Play History: 20-6
Louisiana Pool Play Record: 5-4
Team ERA: 6.00
Team Bat Avg: .375 (8 players over .300)

Key Players: Austin Primeaux (.700, 3HR, 11 RBI), Ethan Hines (.600, 2 HR, 12 RBI)

Projections: Lafayette scored a ton of runs in the Southwest regional and Louisiana state tournament, but gave up its share of runs as well. Haden Erbe is the team's ace, but he's not a flamethrower. After that, the well is pretty dry on the mound. Luckily for Lafayette, they hit. Hines, Primeaux, Erbe, and Miller are the stars. Lafayette's chances of winning the group will come down to the ability to stay away from Georgia's ace.

MIDWEST

Rapid City Harney, South Dakota

Overall 2011 Team Record: 10-1
Midwest Pool Play History: 3-24
South Dakota Pool Play History: 0-3

Team ERA: 2.81
Team Bat Avg: .400 (5 players over .300, 9 HRs in regional)

Key Players: Hayden McGriff (.500, 4 HR), Zach Solano (.500, 2 HR)

Projections: For only the second time in history, a team from South Dakota has advanced to Williamsport. Although the shirts around Williamsports will say Rapid City, South Dakota again, the league is different. Back in 2008, it was Canyon Lake LL. This year it's Harney. The boys from Harney have some big sticks, and Hayden McGriff is intimidating on the mound, but besides playing a nice opener with Montana, Rapid City shouldn't provide many problems for anyone else in the pod.

NORTHWEST

Billings Big Sky, Montana

Overall Team Record: 18-1
Northwest Pool Play Record: 14-13 (Hawaii responsible for 5-1 record before moving to West)
Montana Pool Play Record: 0-0

Team ERA: 2.23
Team Bat Avg: .326 (5 players over .300)

Key Players: Cole McKenzie (.684, 3 HR, 11 RBI, Only regional triple crown winner in USA)

Projections: The Northwest region does surprisingly well, even without Hawaii to carry the load lately. Auburn Washington made a deep run last year, and the teams from Oregon performed well in the latter half of the decade. A team from Montana in the World Series is literally unheard of though. Big Sky, Montana didn't back into the series at all either. They went 3-1 in pool play and took care of business in the single elimination round. For Montana to be successful they only need to win one game this week. It's gotta be the opener with South Dakota. For that to happen, Cole McKenzie will need to win the one-on-one battle with South Dakota's Haden McGriff. Montana is in trouble just by Haden's name alone. If I have a baseball-playing son, I want him to be named Haden McGriff too!

I'll be on the road to Williamsport bright and early tomorrow morning. If I can't get internet access during the trip, I'll post through my phone, but it should be a fantastic week. I haven't been to the World Series during the first weekend since 2003. I'm definitely excited. If anyone is in Williamsport from now until Thursday, leave a comment... come say hi. Remember to share the blog with your friends.

See you guys in Willy!

Little League World Series Previews (Part 1)

The second year of Little League's double elimination brackets is upon us, and yet the two different pods are severely unbalanced. The U.S. pod including the West, Great Lakes, New England, and Mid-Atlantic is significantly stronger than the pod containing Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. Today we'll preview the stronger pod in my opinion.


GREAT LAKES

North Oldham, Kentucky

Overall 2011 Team Record: 13-3
Great Lakes Pool Play History (Since 2002): 9-18, 2002 LLWS Champions
Kentucky Pool Play History: 5-8 (3-0 in 2002)

Team ERA: 1.27
Team Batting Avg: .357  (4 players over .300)

Key Players: Griffin McLarty (Hitting: .647, 1 HR, 8 RBI, Pitching: 14.2 Inn., 30K's, 0 runs), Jacob Bates (.714, 1 HR, 2 3B, 2 2B, 9 RBI)

Projections: Kentucky is led by its 6'0'' right hander, Griffin McLarty. The fireballer dominated on the mound in the Great Lakes regional and was nearly impossible to get out at the plate. Jacob Bates was the star of the offense last week hitting over .700. McLarty will face possibly the deepest offensive lineup in Williamsport with Pennsylvania, and a major home crowd to boot, but good pitching always beats good hitting. The factor in the game and in Kentucky's chances to advance to the US championship is always pitch count for McLarty. The more he's eligible to pitch, the better chances Kentucky has at advancing.

MID-ATLANTIC

Keystone, Pennsylvania

Overall 2011 Team Record: 18-1
Mid-Atlantic Pool Play History: 10-16
Pennsylvania Pool Play Record: 1-2

Team ERA: 1.03
Team Bat Avg: .380 (10 players over .300)

Key Players: Landon Breon (2 HR), Alex Garbrick(.579), Talon Falls (2 HR), Tyler McCloskey(HR, 3 Saves)

Projections: Keystone is a team that looks amazing on paper and in the field. Since I've been attending the Mid-Atlantic regional, Keystone was the most sure-fire champion of all. This week will let us know if that was the result of a weak field or if Keystone is the first team to advance to U.S. championship from the Mid-Atlantic since Danny Almonte's illegal team in 2001. Opening up against a powerful arm from the Great Lakes won't help things, but with the depth of lineup and on the mound, it's very possible that Pennsylvania can advance to at least the pod championship, even if its through the loser's bracket. Expect a major home crowd to boost the boys from Clinton County.

NEW ENGLAND

Cumberland American, Rhode Island

Overall 2011 Team Record: 13-2
New England Pool Play History: 13-14
Rhode Island Pool Play History: 1-2

Team ERA: 4.41
Team Bat Avg: .273 (5 players over .300, 7 players with 1 hit or less)

Key Players: Ryan McCormick (.579, 3 HR), Chris Wright (.389, 3 HR, 11 RBI)

Projections: Cumberland, Rhode Island was the third seed in the New England bracket, and possibly the fourth most talented team. How did a team with an ERA over 4 and a batting average under .300 make it to the LLWS? With great timing. The Cumberland bats were quiet through four games before exploding in the elimination round. Those bats will need to stay hot to prevent a two-and-out situation. The first matchup with the powerful squad from Ocean View will be very tough to be competitive in.

WEST

Ocean View, California

Overall Team Record: 18-1
West Pool Play Record: 21-6
SoCal Pool Play Record: 8-1

Team ERA: 0.53
Team Bat Avg: .351 (9 players over .300)

Key Players: Hagen Danner (.476, HR, 5 RBI, 0.00 ERA), Nick Pratto (.389, 2 RBI)
Projections: USA Champs. I don't think there's any doubt. The biggest negative against Ocean View is that everyone throws their best against them. The only pitcher I can see in the USA bracket that can out-duel any of Ocean View's pitchers is Fromm from Georgia. Otherwise, the staff of Danner, Pratto, and Salzburg will eat anybody up. The only true knock on Ocean View is that they don't hit the ball, but 9 players hitting .300 in a tough regional against top competition proves otherwise. Pratto, the team's best hitter, was barely productive all last week. If he breaks out, it's good night, Irene. Look for Ocean View to handle Rhode Island and then face a good-hitting Pennsylvania team or a McLarty-less Kentucky.

Check back tomorrow for the final four team previews from the USA. It's going to be an exciting 11 days!