Southeast versus Great Lakes

Two other consolation contests on today’s schedule, but Georgia and Michigan will highlight the finale

By Arnie Leshin 

They know what it is, but its difficult convincing Peachtree City and Grosse Pointe that it’s a consolation game they are playing tonight in the International Little League Baseball World Series.

They will both take the field at Lamade Stadium in tonight’s last of three consolation contests, with the others held at Volunteer Field across the street. Peachtree City from Georgia is the Southeast champion, Grosse Pointe from Michigan represents the Great Lakes.

Both reached this round of the double-elimination at 2-1, but the winner will line up next against the loser of Wednesday night winner’s bracket game between Mid-Atlantic champion from Staten Island, N.Y. and the West champs from Honolulu, Hawaii.

But first will see tonight’s losing team with no chance to play for the USA title. It will continue in the consolation bracket, but with no title to seek.

So this stacks up as a terrific match-up. Southeast got this far after being shut down by the West, 2-0, but coming back to blank Northwest. 3-0, and then, similar to rallies by Great Lakes, came from down 4-0 to Southwest to score six times over the last three innings and stunning the SW team out of Houston, Tex., 6-5, in 11 exciting innings.

It was actually 5-1 with Georgia behind and coming up in the top of the sixth frame. But it took the lead at 6-5 and then watched Texas tally once in the last of the inning.

At 6-6, it became even more of a tense clash. But in the

11th, SE put runners on the corners with no out, and after there was one out on an infield pop-up, Tai Peete was walked intentionally to load the bases, and Willis Maginnis lined the ball past the left side of the infield, and it was now celebration time for the Peachtree kids.

Great Lakes and Southeast have not met up yet, but the youngsters from Michigan also want to survive. After an 8-3 loss to the West, it trailed New England, 4-0. after five and then collected five runs on five hits to squeak past the Rhode Island boys,  5-4.

Not done yet, Great Lakes was behind 4-0 after three and came away with another late comeback by pushing across five runs in another 5-4 stunner, this time against Iowa.

A lot will depend on pitching tonight. The LL pitch-count regulations will decide who is and who isn’t eligible to take the mound. Some hurlers might just have few innings in hand, but they will no doubt be used if needed.

Along with Peete, Jack Ryan and catcher Chase Fralick, Southeast can also  count on versatile Ben Traxler to play a number of positions. Same with lead-off batter Jansen Kenty.

Great Lakes has size, depth and can go from cold to hot quickly. It might have a chance to pitch either Preston Barr, Chase Mazey, Cameron Schafer or Ryan Knaebel, probably its top hurler. But it all depends on what the current pitch-count is. Jarren Purify is one of the leading hitters and can also pitch.

In the Monday opener was Michigan’s comeback over Midwest, the middle game had Canada surprise Mexico, 6-4, and then came the Southeast-Southwest tussle, Georgia versus Texas, with the crowd up and down with each play, cheering and rallying the rest of the supporters.

In the International field, Japan and South Korea are the lone unbeaten teams at 2-0. Canada and Puerto Rico are 2-1.

The International final and USA final will be played Saturday, with the championship and third place contest set for Sunday. Japan has won four of the last eight times.