For the fifth time in its history and first time since 2010, the Hamilton West Side Little Leaguers punched their tickets to Williamsport, Pa. and the Little League World Series.
Hamilton's J.J. Vogel opened the day at the Great Lakes Regional with a two-run blast in the first inning and ended with a 13 strikeout no-hitter on the mound, sending Hamilton to the Little League World Series 12-0 over Illinois.
After the first batter of the game reached base, Vogel sent a blast to give Hamilton a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Illinois pitcher settled in, but Vogel never lost focus. Vogel allowed only four base runners through four innings,but struck out 12 batters.
Hamilton broke through in the top of the fifth inning, scoring 10 runs to activate the 10-Run Rule. With the bases loaded and none out, Maddox Jones and Levi Smith each singled to give Hamilton a 4-0 advantage. A single by Cooper Oden, a two-run single from Smith and five bases loaded walks scored the other eight runs.
With the run rule on, Illinois still had a chance to hit in the bottom of the fifth inning, but needed to cut the lead back to single digits to keep playing. A flyout, a fielder's choice and Vogele's 13th strikeout finished up the no-hitter to send Hamilton back to the national stage.
After the Little League World Series was canceled due to the pandemic in 2020, that national stage will be different than the trip Hamilton West Side last .took in 2010
Usually a spectacle of the sport that draws in tens of thousands of attendees, the 2021 World Series will not be open to the public.
"The health and well-being of our teams and mitigating their exposure to COVID-19 must continue to be our main priority, as we conclude our World Series events," Little League President and CEO Stephen D. Keener said in a statement.
“With updated guidance from the CDC, and in consultation with our Pandemic Response Advisory Commission and medical advisors, we feel it’s essential to revert our attendance policy to unfortunately limit the spectators in Williamsport to the family and friends of our 16 participating teams and our highest-level volunteers and supporters."
The 2021 event will also be without the international teams that typically compete. Instead, the Little League World Series will consist of 16 American teams, two from each of the eight regions.
Hamilton will play Michigan, the other Great Lakes Regional qualifier, on Saturday to determine seeding for the World Series.
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