RAPID CITY - The Canyon Lake Little League All-Stars are off to Indianapolis for the Little League Midwest Regional tournament today having already overcome a big hurdle in just getting there.
"It feels pretty good to finally beat Harney," Canyon Lake catcher-outfielder Alec Winter said. "They've gone like four years in a row so it was pretty cool to finally get them."
Canyon Lake was the last team to represent the North-South Dakota region other than Harney, when it went to the Midwest Regional in 2003. The team is going to try to balance its excitement over getting to Indianapolis with just enough calm to be effective as it prepares for its first game Friday.
"I've talked to a lot of people and they say that it's something that you'll always remember," Canyon Lake third baseman Bill Hendricks said. "I'm pretty excited, but it's just another four baseball games. It's normal."
It may be just another four games, but the experience is completely new to every member of the team.
"I've been talking to a lot of the Harney guys, just trying to get some pointers," Canyon Lake manager Doug Simons said. "It's going to be a brand new experience for all of us, so we'll just have to go out and play as well as we can and see how it goes."
Canyon Lake will once again rely heavily on pitchers Tanner Simons, Cale Fierro and Jesse Riddle. Bill Hendricks, Carter Wevik and Logan Anderson could also be called for duty on the mound. Fierro threw a no-hitter against the Rushmore All-Stars in a 13-0 win to clinch the berth in the Midwest Regional.
"Our pitching and defense were pretty good," coach Simons said of winning the district. "What I'd like to do is get our bats to come around a little bit. I think we'll be able to pitch and play defense with the teams that are going to be there, but we're going to need to get the bats going."
The 2008 Midwest Region Tournament uses a pool play format. At the completion of pool play, the top four teams advance to single-elimination semifinal and championship round games. The winner of the regional tournament advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., from Aug. 15-24. The Harney All-Stars made it to the 2007 Midwest Regional championship game before losing to Coon Rapids, Minn., 17-8. No Rapid City team has ever qualified for the LLWS.
"If we can make it to the championship game like (Harney) did last year, that would be awesome," Hendricks said.
Canyon Lake will be taking on Cherokee Community Little League from Cherokee, Kan., in its first game in Indianapolis on Friday at 3:30 MDT. Playing against a team that they've never seen before didn't seem to worry Canyon Lake.
"It will be a little different because when you're playing Little League you know the pitchers and hitters and what they like to do a little," Winter said. "We're not going to have any idea about any of these teams and they'll be throwing their best pitchers.
"But they won't know anything about us, either."
