Little League World Series set to open Thursday

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – It’s not easy to advance to the Little League World Series. Bowling Green Eastern coach Scott Kelley knows that much.

It’s tougher for him to think his players would battle through the Great Lakes Region for the second straight year and find themselves in position to win a title again. But here the Kentucky kids are with a roster dotted with veterans – an almost unattainable luxury.

“It’s been a journey,” Kelley said as his players ate an early dinner at a picnic Wednesday, hours before play begins in the 70th Little League World Series.

One that picks up where it left off last year for infielder Spencer Newman and pitchers Devin Obee and Carson Myers. All three were on the Bowling Green team that went 2-2 last year.

Now, they’re the old guys who started last year and helped lead Bowling Green to a 3-0 romp through the Great Lakes Regional into the 16-team championship field in South Williamsport.

“Both Devin and Carson pitched last year,” Kelley said. “That gives them that advantage of having been on the mound and in the spotlight in that situation. So that certainly helps. I think in terms of those three being leaders on the team, can kind of calm the nerves.”

It also helps that their teammates already got a taste of playing inside Howard J. Lamade Stadium where the finals will be played on Aug. 28. Bowling Green beat Essexville, Michigan, in their regional final in a game that was moved 10 hours east to the championship stadium after bad weather forced the game’s postponement in Indianapolis.

But the postponement may also have a negative effect. Bowling Green might have to rely on one of its veterans early, too, as ace pitcher Isaiah Head will be unavailable after pitching Monday’s game.

“He’s throwing in the mid-70s, and throwing from three different angles and his offspeed has been pretty good,” Kelley said. “And he’s been accurate. His strike percentage has been 75 percent, so he’s been lights out for us. We were going all out to win that game and not worry about Friday.”