WASHINGTON CITY – The Washington City All-Star Team is in an incredible position to become the first Utah team to ever earn a bid to the Little League World Series. Washington won the State Championship in July to earn their bid into the Western Regional Tournament.
The Western Regional Tournament consists of 6 teams: Arizona, Northern California, Southern California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. The tournament begins with pool play, and the top 4 teams after pool play are admitted into a single elimination tournament.
Utah-Washington has a record of 2-2 after pool play, securing them the 4th seed in the Western Region Semi-Finals where they will play Southern California on Friday, August 12,in the second of the two games.
According to ESPN’s website, the semi-finals will be broadcast on ESPN 2 with the first game starting at 5 p.m. Eastern, 3 p.m. locally. The second game will start at 11 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. locally. The winners of these two games will face each other in the Western Regional Final which will be broadcast on ESPN with the winner earning a bid to the Little League World Series.
About his team’s success, coach Mark Sampson said, “What’s so amazing about it is the demographics. Here in Utah we don’t have very many people. Usually the Utah team comes to the Region tournament and looses 4 games and goes home.”
Last year in the Region tournament, the team went 1-3 in pool play and returned home. Only one player, Marc McArthur, returns from last year’s team.
“People root for us as the underdogs,” said Sampson, “and we like it!”
Utah-Washington has beaten Hawaii, who won the Western Regional last year, 5-3 and Arizona 5-2. If they can win these next 2 games, they will be the first Utah team ever to earn a trip to the Little League World Series.
Talking about the upcoming game against Southern California, who they haven’t faced yet but was undefeated in pool play, Coach Sampson told St. George News, “We feel we can actually beat them.”
He said that playing the No. 1 seeded team first is to his team’s advantage because it allows him to use his pitching Ace, left handed Seth Corry, in the first round to help keep them alive in the tournament, while it’s likely that Southern California will save their best pitcher for the championship game.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2011, all rights reserved.
Right on Washington Allstars! In 1999 my son’s team were the Wyoming state champs. At that time, Wyo was part of the western region. They went to San Bernardino to play. What an experiance that was! Nowdays, I live in Washington City and my heart is with you. Best of luck in the tourney.
Go non-Utah team(s)!
what does this have to do with being a Mormon?
Re: Not a mormon Are you serious? What an A-Whole
Dead serious bob. Screw this theocracy.
Fear, famine, and pestilence for all.
also not an A-hole unlike Not a Morman.
Guys, I just went back and read my comments and realized how stupid and insensitive I was. I don’t know why I say these things. Best of luck to the kids on the Washington City team. Don’t listen to knuckleheads like me.