Hamilton West Side is on to the U.S. championship game.
On less than 12 hours of rest, Ohio defeated Iowa 7-1 on Thursday to advance to the Little League World Series U.S. finals. West Side, which is making its sixth trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania — more than any other program worldwide — have now matched their best-ever finish at the World Series.
Ohio will have a rematch with Nevada, which defeated them in walk-off fashion 6-5 in Hamilton's first game, in the U.S. title game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
"I've been in Little League for 43 years," said Hamilton head coach Tim Nichting.
"We've had some good teams and made it here six times, but this is just nuts."
The loss to Nevada dropped Hamilton into the elimination bracket, where the boys faced a daunting task of winning five straight elimination games to reach the U.S. finals. Job done.
The kids from Hamilton followed the loss to Nevada with a 10-0 run-rule victory over New England, a 6-2 victory over Texas, a 5-2 victory over New Jersey, an 11-2 victory over Alabama and Thursday's 7-1 victory over Iowa. West Side's 44 runs scored make it the highest-scoring offense in the tournament.
"It's crazy what we've done so far," Nichting said. "Even if we were to lose, it can't diminish what we've done."
On Thursday, Hamilton had a quick turnaround from Wednesday. After defeating Alabama 11-2 at around 9:30 p.m. Ohio picked up right where it left off for its weather-adjusted 9 a.m. first pitch against Iowa.
The West Side bats were hot from the start. Hamilton poured in four runs in the first inning as Jack McAdams hit an RBI single and Bob Frazier drove in three more runs with a bases-loaded triple. Ohio's defense was also stingy, led by Walker Osborne's 4.1 shutout innings on his way to a complete-game victory.
Even as Iowa scored its first run in the fifth inning, Ohio had an answer, scoring two more runs in the top of the sixth to put the game safely out of reach. Osborne struck out four and allowed just four hits.
It was hard to draw up a better start for Ohio on Thursday. They loaded the bases with just one out, allowing a McAdams single and Frazier triple to score four runs. Iowa was able to secure two closing strikeouts to strand Frazier at third, but Ohio's offense had picked up right where it left off 12 hours earlier against Alabama.
Hamilton got its breathing room in the top of the sixth. With Bryson Williams and Leo Feltner already aboard, a hard-hit Josiah Infante single drove home two runs with the help of a fielding error. That opened the lead to 7-1 where it ended.
Iowa scored its one run in the bottom of the fifth after getting runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Iowa hit into a fielder's choice at third base to score the run.
On the other side of the World Series bracket Curacao will play Japan in the international final at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, scheduled to be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
The international champion will play the U.S. champion on Sunday at 3 p.m. Saturday's runners-up play in the third-place game at 10 a.m. Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Hamilton Little League reached the U.S. final at World Series
