August 5, 2011

U.S. regional tournaments get into full swing

Manhattan Beach hopes to make its second consecutive trip to Bangor so it can move past the semifinal round, where the team lost to eventual World Series runner-up Bangor East/West last year.

With the U.S. West Regional entering its fourth day and the Canada Regional entering its second day, three more regionals are set to begin play today: U.S. East, U.S. Southeast, and U.S. Southwest. The U.S. Central Regional begins tomorrow.

So far, four teams have already qualified for this year’s World Series, which begins with opening ceremonies on Aug. 13 and the first day of pool play on Aug. 14. Tanauan L.L., Tanauan City, Philippines, won the Asia-Pacific regional on July 1. Friuli Venezia Giulia L.L., Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, won the Europe-Middle East-Africa regional on July 7. Defending World Series champion Aruba South L.L., San Nicolas, Aruba, won its third consecutive Latin America championship on July 9. Brewer/Orrington L.L., Brewer, won the Maine District 3 championship on July 26 to be the host team.

The U.S. West Regional began Tuesday in Ontario, Calif., with perennial West power Hilo L.L., Hilo, Hawaii, and defending West champion Manhattan Beach L.L., Manhattan Beach, Calif., vying for return trips to Bangor. Hilo won the 2003 World Series and played in the 2007 series. Manhattan Beach was undefeated in pool play last year, but lost in the semifinals to Maine District 3’s Bangor East/West L.L., Bangor.

In the U.S. East Regional, being held in West Deptford, N.J., Freehold Township L.L., Freehold Township, N.J., is looking to become the 10th consecutive team from New Jersey to qualify for a Bangor World Series. No other state has represented the East since the series moved to the Queen City in 2002. Freehold Township won the 2004 series, returned in 2005 with a semifinal appearance, and played in the 2007 series.

In the U.S. Southeast Regional, host Palm Bay East L.L., Palm Bay, Fla., is seeking its second consecutive trip to the series. Palm Bay East finished a disappointing 1-3 last year, the first time a U.S. Southeast champion had failed to win more than one game in a Bangor series.

In the U.S. Central Regional [WARNING: MIDI music], being held in Peru and Oglesby, Ill., Holmes County L.L., Holmes County, Ohio, is hoping for its second consecutive regional title. In last year’s series, Holmes County went 2-2, but featured a strong hitting team, leading all others with a .375 batting average, a .466 on-base percentage, and an .895 on-base percentage+slugging percentage. On the mound, however, Holmes County pitchers had an ERA of 8.28. Opponents hit .384.

Another familiar league in the U.S. Central regional vying for a return trip to Bangor is West Madison L.L., Madison, Wis. The league played in the 2007 series, going 1-3.

Complete information for the U.S. Southwest Regional, being held in Seguin, Texas, was not available at press time.