Ask Tallmadge, Ohio, mayor Christopher Grimm how important baseball is in his community, and he has a ready answer.

"How big is football in Massillon?" asks Grimm, referring to the storied Ohio high school gridiron power.

Tallmadge's rich baseball tradition permeates everyday life in the city. Grimm's office is adorned with numerous photos of teams he has sponsored over the years. At least one local Boy Scout troop simply stops meeting in April of each year, when attendance plummets as the local diamonds fill up.

The tradition is evident on the field, as well. Tallmadge High School is a perennial contender for the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II championship, and followed a state runner-up finish in 2001 by winning the title in 2002. Many of the Blue Devil players are graduates of Tallmadge Little League, which reached the Little League World Series in 1974 and has won more state championships in the major baseball division than any other Ohio league. The girls have shared in the success: Tallmadge reached the Little League Softball World Series in 2000, and advanced to the Central Region semifinals in 2003.

Tallmadge Little League's all-star team added a new chapter to the town's tradition in 2003. Wielding an offense as big as the town's baseball legacy, Tallmadge outscored six opponents 58-9 to sweep through the Great Lakes Region tournament at Stokely Field in Indianapolis, Indiana, and qualified for the Little League World Series.

In the championship game, Tallmadge scored six runs before an out was recorded in the first inning, and then cruised past Midland Northeast (Michigan) Little League 7-1. Matt Keen led off the bottom of the first with a home run, and Jake Patrick capped the rally with a grand slam over the left field fence. Patrick later added a second home run, while pitcher Nick Thompson earned his third win of the tournament with a three-hitter.

"This is a great feeling," said Tallmadge manager Randy Keen, Jr. "Every kid should experience this."

Randy Keen has a unique perspective on the Little League World Series experience. He played and his father coached on Tallmadge's 1974 all-star team, which finished fourth at the Little League World Series. Keen and his son Matt would repeat the journey in 2003 as only the second father/son combination to play in Little League Baseball's fall classic.

"All three generations making it to Williamsport, that's special," said Randy Keen.

Randy and Matt Keen were among a contingent of Tallmadge players and parents who attended the 2002 Little League World Series as spectators.

"About seven or eight of our guys went to watch last year and I think it motivated us to get there," said Randy Keen. "It got the guys excited and ready to go."

Tallmadge's readiness was evident throughout the international tournament. After outscoring nine opponents 68-15 to claim the league's eighth Ohio championship, Tallmadge roared through six games at the regional.

"Those guys can hit the ball," said Wausau Western (Wisconsin) Little League manager Jamie Schaefer after his team succumbed to a nineteen hit onslaught in Tallmadge's 16-4 semifinal round win. "They put a charge into the ball up and down the lineup. Their number six and seven hitters (in the batting order) were hitting home runs."

"They are an unbelievable hitting team," concurred Midland coach Todd Rivard. "Basically every pitch we threw up there, they hit."

"We had eight different guys hit home runs in this regional tournament," said Randy Keen. "That's a nice luxury to have."

Two of those homers came in the semifinal round win over Wausau Western, where Patrick's third inning grand slam broke the game open. Seven different Tallmadge players had multi-hit games, six scored two or more runs, and four drove in multiple runs. Paul Pakan had three hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored, while Andrew Volcheck added two hits, scored twice, and drove in three runs.

"The way we are hitting, there is no one that can stop us," said Tallmadge coach Tom Thompson. "It's just amazing how this team is coming together right now."

Randy Keen was equally impressed with the work of pitcher Jake May, who won for the third time in the regional.

"Our pitching staff has been a pleasant surprise," explained Randy Keen. "I thought we had average pitching, but they have stepped up during tournament play."

May and Nick Thompson each earned two victories in pool competition. May did not allow an earned run in his two pool victories, throwing a four-hitter as Tallmadge rallied past Brooklyn Little League (Anderson, Indiana) 4-1 in their pool opener, and adding a three-hitter in a 9-1 pool win over Wausau Western. Nick Thompson held Moline National (Illinois) Little League to a pair of hits in a 10-0 mercy-rule shortened win, and then struck out eleven as Tallmadge topped Midland Northeast 10-2 to complete their pool schedule.

Tallmadge led Midland 4-1 late in their final pool game before overwhelming the Michigan champions with a six-run fifth inning rally. It marked the fourth of six consecutive games at the region tournament in which the Ohio champions scored four or more runs in an inning. The team had at least eight hits in every game, and finished the tournament with a collective .429 (72-for-168) team batting average.

"When we bring our bats," said Randy Keen, "that's our bread and butter."

After defeating Midland for a second time, Tallmadge looked forward to a return trip to South Williamsport -- this time as participants rather than spectators.

"There is nothing like the Little League World Series," said Randy Keen. "You can go to state championships in high school, even the College World Series, and it still doesn't compare to this."

Randy Keen also knew which of his Little League World Series experiences he'd treasure more.

"Being a player was cool, and I have a lot of great memories of that," said the Ohio manager. "But there's nothing as rewarding as seeing your children succeed."

Randy Keen's team faced a tall order as the Little League World Series began: Tallmadge opened pool competition with games against a pair of teams that eventually advanced to the U.S. championship game. Facing a pair of curveball specialists, the Great Lakes champions managed only six hits in a pair of losses to Saugus American (Massachusetts) Little League and East Boynton Beach (Florida) Little League. The Ohio champions rebounded to edge Richland National (Washington) Little League 5-4 and finish third in their pool with a 1-2 record.

Linescores:

Pool Play Game 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8		R	H	E
Tallmadge (Ohio)	0	0	0	0	4	0				4	8	1
Brooklyn (Indiana)	0	0	1	0	0	0				1	4	3
Pool Play Game 2
Midland Northeast (Michigan)	0	2	3	0	0	8				13	13	1
Wausau Western (Wisconsin)	0	0	0	0	0	0				0	4	0
Pool Play Game 3
Midland Northeast (Michigan)	2	4	0	1	0	0				7	7	1
Owensboro Southern (Kentucky)	0	0	0	3	0	0				3	4	1
Pool Play Game 4
Tallmadge (Ohio)	1	7	1	1						10	13	1
Moline National (Illinois)	0	0	0	0						0	2	2
Pool Play Game 5
Wausau Western (Wisconsin)	0	2	2	0	0	0	4			8	6	5
Moline National (Illinois)	2	1	1	0	0	0	0			4	7	2
Pool Play Game 6
Owensboro Southern (Kentucky)	0	0	3	2	2	0				7	7	0
Brooklyn (Indiana)	0	0	0	0	0	0				0	0	2
Pool Play Game 7
Wausau Western (Wisconsin)	0	1	0	0	0	0				1	4	2
Tallmadge (Ohio)	0	0	1	2	6	x				9	9	3
Pool Play Game 8
Brooklyn (Indiana)	0	0	0	2	0	0				2	4	2
Midland Northeast (Michigan)	0	0	1	4	0	x				5	8	2
Pool Play Game 9
Owensboro Southern (Kentucky)	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	7		11	14	2
Moline National (Illinois)	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0		4	10	4
Pool Play Game 10
Midland Northeast (Michigan)	1	0	0	0	1	0				2	7	0
Tallmadge (Ohio)	3	0	0	1	6	x				10	14	2
Pool Play Game 11
Moline National (Illinois)	2	4	1	1	1	0				9	12	2
Brooklyn (Indiana)	1	0	0	0	0	0				1	6	1
Pool Play Game 12
Owensboro Southern (Kentucky)	2	0	0	0	0	0				2	5	1
Wausau Western (Wisconsin)	0	0	0	0	0	1				1	4	1
Semifinal Round
Owensboro Southern (Kentucky)	0	1	4	1	0	1				7	12	2
Midland Northeast (Michigan)	2	5	0	0	4	x				11	13	2
Semifinal Round
Tallmadge (Ohio)	2	0	5	2	4	3				16	19	2
Wausau Western (Wisconsin)	0	0	0	2	2	0				4	8	3
Championship Game
Midland Northeast (Michigan)	1	0	0	0	0	0				1	3	0
Tallmadge (Ohio)	6	0	0	0	1	x				7	9	0

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