El Segundo has all five of its pitchers available, but manager Danny Boehle said next week will be a strategy week because there are restrictions on when you can next use a pitcher depending on how many pitches they’ve thrown.
El Segundo is hoping for a win Monday to advance to the semifinals Wednesday, followed by the U.S. championship game on Aug. 26 and the final game Aug. 27 against the international champion.
“Now you’re playing every other day,” Boehle said, “it’s all about strategy now.”
El Segundo will get back first baseman Jaxon Kalish, who missed El Segundo’s 4-3 opening win Thursday night because of a stomach virus.
Kalish’s return gives El Segundo a formidable trio of hitters with Brody Brooks and Louis Lappe.
“He just hit out six home runs,” Boehle said from practice Saturday. “He’s healthy.”
Needville is 41 miles from Houston with a population of slightly more than 3,000 as of 2020.