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Hamilton, Ohio is heating up at the Little League World Series. And Bob Frazier is full strength again.
The Great Lakes champions won their second straight Series game Monday at Lamade Stadium, defeating Boerne, Texas, 6-1. Following an opening-game loss against Nevada. It plays again Tuesday night when it faces New Jersey in another elimination game, this time under the lights.
Bob Frazier, who suffered a hairline fracture to his right thumb last month, and Walker Osborne combined on a five-hitter. Frazier was magnificent in a must-win situation, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out five.
The left-hander was at his best under pressure, leaving runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings. He and Osborne stranded 12 runners total.
"Bob was going into this all-star thing as our ace and then this thumb thing happened," Ohio manager Tim Nichting said. "He's fought his way back and congratulations to Bob. What a gem.
Osborne sealed the win by leaving runners on second and third and making a nice play on a grounder hit back at him.
Josiah Infante hit a first-inning two-out RBI single to put Ohio ahead to stay, 1-0. The timely two-hitting continued an inning later when Zach Hilton ripped a two-run single and made it, 3-0. Ohio added two more runs in the fourth, taking advantage of two walks, two wild pitches and a stolen base. The Great Lakes champions have outscored their last two opponents, 16-1.
Texas was eliminated after going 0-2 at the Series. It was not the ending the Southwest champions wanted but it was another fantastic run by the team from Boerne which made its second Series appearance in three seasons.
Texas had plenty of chances Monday, but was unable to capitalize. The biggest game in the third inning when Lyle Fisher hit a one-out single and an error and hit batter loaded the bases with one out. Unfazed, Frazier came up big again, getting a strikeout and inducing a soft liner to Osborne at second base.
Carson Patrick broke the Texas drought with two outs in the sixth inning, hitting an RBI single.