Jill Snyder of Bowling Green congratulates Bowling Green East pitcher Isaiah Head after their 5-0 win over Hazard Perry County on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at Lake Reba Park in Richmond, Ky. (Austin Anthony / photo@bgdailynews.com)

The road to Williamsport, Pa. continues in Indianapolis for the Bowling Green East 11-and 12-year-old All-Stars, who open play in the Great Lakes Regional Tournament at 3 p.m. CDT on Monday.

It’s the final hurdle for Bowling Green in its quest to return to the Little League World Series. East must survive the six-team, double-elimination tournament that also features the state champions from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana.

BG East manager Rick Kelley said the team is ready for the challenge to defend its Great Lakes title.

“The experience certainly helps,” Kelley said. “It helps from the players coming back to the coaches coming back. All three of the coaches were there last year, so we have the experience of being there as well as the three players coming back. That is certainly an advantage. The Hamilton (Ohio) team also has that advantage. The fact that we are the defending champion certainly means that everyone will be keying on us. We have to be aware of that.”

With six teams in the field, two teams get an advantage out of the gate with an opening-round bye. Bowling Green East is one of those teams – waiting to face the winner of Sunday’s game between Essexville Hampton (Mich.) Little League and Hamilton Little League.

East will be last team that will play in the field.

“It is a great advantage to be able to see all five teams play before we play,” Kelley said. “We are in good shape and we’ve had some good practices since the state tournament, so we are anxious to get up there and defend our title and see what happens.”

While getting the bye gives East an advantage in pitching, Kelley said the other team could have an advantage with the experience of already having a game under its belt.

“Playing a game allows you to get some of the jitters out, so there is an advantage to that from that standpoint, particularly if you are able to use your pitching wisely,” Kelley said. “It can go both ways. It depends on whether it is a close game or not.”

Bowling Green hopes that its pitching can be its strength. East allowed nine runs total in the state tournament, including Isaiah Head’s 16-strikeout, complete-game shutout in the championship.

“Isaiah certainly pitched one of the best games I have seen in the years I have been coaching in the championship of the state tournament,” Kelley said. “We’ve gotten great pitching from Devin Obee, from Carson Myers, from Drew Wolfram, really all up and down the line the guys have been throwing well. The key is they have been throwing strikes and preserving their pitch count. That is so important when you get to this tournament level.”

BG East could be tested out of the gate against a team it has history with. Hamilton nearly eliminated East last year, leading 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth before BG rallied for four runs to advance to the Great Lakes championship game where they won handily.

“It’s the same coach from last year,” Kelley said. “I know they feel like they let one get away last year. It was a fantastic Little League game and it’s what makes Little League exciting – that anything can happen in those games. I know they will be pumped if they get the opportunity to play us again. It will be a fantastic game if it gets to that point.”

— Follow prep reporter Micheal Compton on Twitter @mcompton428 or visit bgdailynews.com.