West Point Little League gears up to host state 8-9-10 tournament

When West Point Little League president Tom Rennie inquired about hotel availability in the last week of July for the Pennsylvania State Little League 8-9-10 tournament, which is being hosted by the league, he got a chuckle from management.

That’s because Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at Latrobe starts on the same day (July 26) as the tournament.

But Rennie was still able to find enough hotels in the Greensburg area to accommodate the seven or possibly eight teams coming to in the tournament that runs through Aug. 1.

West Point will be playing in the Section 2 tournament beginning July 18 at Latrobe against Bullskin and Hermitage. The winner of the tournament will serve as the host team.

Rennie said details for the tournament were finalized July 11. Excela Health is the main sponsor of West Point Little League.

“It’s an honor to be selected to host the state tournament,” Rennie said. “The state knows our league can host the state tournament because we’ve done it well in the past. We know what we are doing.”

There’s another reason West Point is happy to host the tournament.

Rennie said he wanted to show the younger players that they can play for a state championship and can advance to a Mid-Atlantic Regional.

The 11-12 (major) teams can eventually compete in the Little League World Series in Williamsport.

Rennie said that West Point’s numbers increased in the lower levels of the league and he hopes that trend continues.

“We just want to show the younger players and parents that there is something to play for and more to offer than travel ball,” Rennie said.

Some of the final details include having four food trucks at the field to help take the stress off the concession stand and having enough people to direct traffic in the parking lots.

There will be an opening ceremony on Day 1 and West Point will have Mutual Aid on hand in case of medical situations.

“The first two days are the busiest,” Rennie said. “We want things to run smoothly”

The section tournaments at other levels have already begun.

Latrobe, for example, defeated West Point 11 year-old team and 12-year-old team.

“We’re excited about the 10 year-old team,” Rennie said. “(District 26 assistant administrator Don Thomas) has already talked to the (West Point) coaches about the different rules in Little League. It’s a lot different that travel ball.”