Appears to be an impressive USA elite eight that will take the field when the 75th annual International Little League championship begins

It’s an impressive lineup of USA Regional winners that will be out to dethrone Japan

By Arnie Leshin 

All is well in Bristol, Conn., where the last two USA Regional championships will wind up with the final two teams from the Little League Baseball Regional that was rained out Saturday.

The complete USA 8-team field will come from the four left standing as the 75th annual International throws out the first pitch Thursday in South Williamsport, Pa.

There were six other Regional championships that were played Saturday, but none in Bristol, Conn, where the Mid-Atlantic and New England finals were scheduled.

That’s the Mid-Atlantic where New York faces Maryland, and New England where Rhode Island meets up with Massachusetts, weather permitting, and currently the New York-Maryland game is underway.

If you’re looking for favorites in these games, it might be undefeated Maryland over New York and unbeaten Massachusetts over Rhode Island. But New York is coming off a bye that should make it easier for its pitching rotation, and Rhode Island is coming off an unbelievable last inning comeback to nip a stunned New Hampshire team that led 5-0 and lost 6-5.

Already advancing to the grand finale of the biggest youth activity the world is Iowa, Idaho, Michigan, Hawaii, Texas East and Georgia.

Michigan had no problem disposing of Indiana, 13-0, in the Great Lakes Regional played in Indiana. Michigan didn’t hide anything, jumping out to an early lead, continuing its hit parade, and displaying alert base running and quality pitching. It’s a tall and talented team with a balanced lineup.

Iowa also looked good, avenging a previous defeat by blanking undefeated North Dakota. This time, Iowa had the upper hand in the Midwest Regional, leading 7-0 before North Dakota pushed across four runs in the bottom of the seventh. It almost became another rally that Rhode Island accomplished.

Hawaii was another team that was impressive in its West Regional 4-0 final against North California. Played in San Bernardino, Calif., Hawaii had a huge turnout that never stopped cheering against the California team, and it is yet another team that looks like a contender.

In the Northwest Regional also played in San Bernardino, Idaho avenged a previous setback to Montana by winning 7-4 this time and playing its best game in the Region. Idaho showed solid pitching, key hitting, and alertness on the bases, and Montana didn’t reach home plate until its final at-bat.

The first two USA teams to pack their gear for Williamsport were Texas East in the Southwest Region played in Waco, Tex, and Georgia in the Southeast. Texas shut down surprising Oklahoma and Georgia disposed of Kentucky. These are two experienced programs also pose a threat, with both going undefeated through its respective regions.

There was quite a few stellar pitching, but Michigan dominated with its bats, scoring 60 times and yielding only 8 runs through the region. Michigan held Indiana to one hit and had eight of its own.

Iowa did prevail behind its hurling and fielding, while Hawaii provided a sample of both. Idaho outplayed Montana this time to win its fourth of five outings.

Idaho also came through by its bats, scoring 42 times and allowing 15 in the Region, with only Montana posing a threat. Iowa was dominated by North Dakota in the previous meeting, but now it was all Iowa in every phase of the game as it gained its 14th World Series.

It appears to be a strong USA field, and the two winners out of Bristol, Conn., figure to make it even stronger.