In Wednesday’s do-or-die game between the South and West, the South prevailed.

The South now has a date with U.S. East in the United States Championship Game.

The West Region champion Cyress, California took a 1-0 in the first. The West added three more in the third. They led off the third with two walks and things came apart for the South. Starting pitcher Alex Alba hit a ground ball to South third baseman Sam Byrum who threw the ball into right field. Richard Barnhill, the centerfielder, bobbled the ball and proceeded to make a throwing error. All in all, three errors were made on the play.

Barnhill would get his revenge in the top of the fourth when he came up with two on and one out. He hit a towering homerun to tie the game at four.

"It feels great to get out of my hitting slump," he said.

The South then came back in the fifth with back-to-back homeruns by Brack Massey and Kevin Hodges, giving them a 6-4 lead.

"The bats just starting waking up today," Massey said. "Kevin and I have gone back-to-back three or four times before."

"This was a great experience for the kids," he said. "What more could you ask for than to play in Williamsport."

The West goes home with their heads high and the South is one win away from the Little League World Series.

"We took a little morning batting practice," said Wayne Hardee, manager of the South. "I figured that it wouldn’t hurt."

Hodges came on in the bottom of the fifth and struck out the side, providing the team with some momentum. He then closed it out in the sixth with three more strikeouts. He struck out the last six batters he faced.

"I was more confident after we took the lead," he said. "It was tough early because they weren’t swinging at the curves so I had to pitch them over the plate. That was when they started hitting them."

The West ends their run for the title with a record of 1-2. After the game became tied, it seemed all the confidence was lost.

"The boys were playing a great game," said Greg Novy, manager of the West. "I don’t think it was the pressure. The South just came back and took it away from us. Our hitting never came alive like I had hoped."

Novy was very proud of his boys and feels like they accomplished a lot.

--Mark Rogoff
   Special Correspondent