South Dakota shortstop Hayden McGriff flips the ball to Justin Kraemer during practice in Williamsport on Tuesday. Harney players traded in the red, white and blue uniforms for new green and orange Midwest uniforms for the Little League World Series. (Photo Jake Nordbye/IDS)

WILLIAMSPORT, PA–For the past month, the Harney All-Stars have been the team to beat.  They came into the North Dakota/South Dakota District Tournament as the immediate favorites, and proceeded to belt 27 home runs on their way to a 5-0 record.

The Midwest Regional Tournament came and pitted Harney against five regional powers for a shot at Williamsport.  The South Dakota All-Stars didn’t flinch on their way to a 5-1 record and the regional title. Their home run totals were down, but they still led the tournament with nine big flies along with a .400 team batting average.

Now, South Dakota enters the Little League World Series representing the Midwest Region against fifteen of the best teams in the world: seven from the United States, and eight International teams. And in a matter of days, they have gone from favorites to a team flying under the radar. One major reason? Since 2001, the Midwest has gone a bleak 3-27 at the World Series, with never more than one win in a tournament.

With such a dismal history of Midwest performances preceding them, many observers picture Harney as an easy two-and-out team.  After a full day of practice, including a workout in front of the prestigious Baseball Factory, The Rapid City club has already turned some heads. But they all know that the real test starts Thursday at 1 p.m. when they face the Northwest Regional champions, Billings, Mont., in the opening their opening game of the Little League World Series.

Here’s a look at Harney’s first round opponent:

Billings Big Sky

A view from from Lamade Hill at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA.. South Dakota opens play against Billings at this stadium on Thursday. (Photo Jake Nordbye/IDS)

Billings is making the first-ever appearance of a Montana team in the Little League World Series.  They won their regional title, posting a 5-1 record after beating Oregon-Bend South Little League 7-1 in the championship game.

Billings as a team finished the Northwest Regional Tournament with a .326 team batting average and had a 2.23 team ERA. Billings’ strength comes from Cole McKenzie, their three-hole and ace on the mound.

McKenzie started two games on the mound for the Montana All-Stars and threw 10 2/3 innings, giving up only three runs.  McKenzie brings some size to the mound at 5’9” along with an upper-60’s fastball.  He has the ability to overpower with the fastball but can also use finesse with a tight-breaking curveball.

In his almost eleven innings of pitching McKenzie has shown some struggles with the strike zone, issuing nine walks, but has also kept hitters off-balance surrendering only four hits.

Along with his dominating presence on the mound, McKenzie is Billings’ spark at the plate.  He led every single offensive category in the Northwest Regional, hitting at an incredible .684 clip with three home runs and eleven RBIs.

Harney All-Stars

Knowing full well of the Midwest Region’s recent struggles in the tournament, manager Kasey McGriff has only one thought entering Thursday’s match-up.

“We’re here. We have a new goal, and that’s to go all the way,” McGriff told IDS after a long day of practicing Thursday at the complex in Williamsport.  “Just because we’re not from Georgia or California doesn’t mean that that’s not a possibility.”

For any team coming into the Little League World Series, nerves is always a key issue.  Some teams become complacent after just making it this far, while others become so wrapped up in the lights and cameras that they begin to slowly crack under the pressure.

There is no way to tell how each individual team will take in the atmosphere that is Williamsport, Penn. but so far, Harney has taken it all in stride.  Watching them practice on Tuesday, for the second time of the day, Harney looked incredibly loose and focused.

“When we were in Indianapolis the kids were bouncing off the walls and wrestling with each other, but it’s not like that here,” said McGriff.  “It’s all business.”

With his performance in the regional semifinals, one might expect hard-throwing Harney ace Brett Beyer to receive the starting nod for Thursday’s game.  McGriff is leaning, instead, towards either Cameron Fees or Erik Petry for the opening-round game.

McGriff also told IDS that there would be no late lineup changes for the opening game of the World Series.  “I’m a big fan of ‘If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.’”

With Little League officials cracking down on pitch counts in recent years, staying in the winner’s bracket will be even more important this year.

If Harney loses their opening round game against Billings, their next scheduled game is Saturday afternoon, giving their pitchers only one day of rest.  However, if Rapid City wins, they play Sunday afternoon, giving their pitchers another day of rest.

Whichever team makes it to the championship game undefeated will reap the benefit of an added day of rest between each game.  After a team’s first loss, the extra day goes away and pitching becomes more and more scarce.

Harney has the unique quality of a deep pitching staff, with seven or eight different arms available on the mound.  When some teams have to rely on their ace through thick and thin, South Dakota can make a quick change if one pitcher is struggling and not have to worry about ruining their chances at another game.