McCook Juniors scorch Gothenburg twice for state tourney bert

Monday, July 28, 2003

On a muggy Saturday afternoon, there wasn't anything else that was hotter than the McCook Juniors baseball team.

McCook burned Gothenburg in the first two games of a best of three series to win the Area 6 district tournament at the Jaycees Sports Complex.

McCook showed no mercy on Gothenburg in the first game with a 34-4 blowout.

The game was called after the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule.

Evan Koetter picked up the win pitching for McCook. Koetter pitched a complete game and gave up four runs on five hits and striking out five in his five innings of work.

McCook scored six runs in the first inning and another seven runs in the second inning to give McCook a comfortable 13-0 lead.

McCook scored 10 runs in the third to lead 23-0.

Gothenburg three runs in the bottom of the third and one in the fifth. McCook added one run in the fourth and 10 more in the fifth.

Every single McCook player crossed the plate at least once. Klug led the team in runs by scoring on five of his six at-bats. Klug also had three singles.

Brendan Liess led McCook at the play by going 4-for-5 with two singles, a double and a triple.

Ross Jones went 4-for-6 with four singles. Tyler Wilson also had three singles for McCook.

McCook 67 (10) 1 (10) -- 34 23 1

Gothenburg 003 01 -- 4 5 12

M -- Evan Koetter. G -- Andrew Aden, Isaiah Edson, Andy Jobman. W -- Koetter. L -- Aden. 1B -- Brendon Liess (3), Ross Jones (4), Brett Burton, Tyler Wilson (3), Mason Pohl, Koetter, Jeff Klug (3), Alex Sughroue, Michael Sinclair (2), Tony Purvis, M. Travis Ostergard, Adam Yilk, Jobman, Justin Wilson, G. 2B -- Liess, Pohl, Brad Potthoff, M. 3B -- Liess, M.

McCook Juniors 8,

Gothenburg 2

In a somewhat closer second game, McCook defeated Gothenburg 8-2 to complete the district championship.

Ross Jones pitched a complete-game victory for the McCook squad.

Jones gave up two runs on three hits and struck out three Gothenburg batters. Juniors coach Jade Muehlenkamp was pleased with both of his pitchers that threw in the series.

"Both Evan and Ross pitched well. It was a good day from our kids not only offensively but also pitching as well," Muehlenkamp said.

Brendan Liess scored the first run for McCook in the first inning of play off of a Brett Burton ground ball.

Mark Rogers then reached base with a single and Tyler Wilson joined him when Gothenburg's third baseman muffed his ground ball allowing him to reach first base.

Brad Potthoff scored both Rogers and Liess to complete the three run first inning.

In the second frame, Rogers smacked a double to score Evan Koetter and Burton for a 5-0 lead. Rogers scored when Wilson singled. Mason Pohl drove in Wilson for a 7-0 lead.

McCook added one more run in the fourth inning. Rogers scored on a passed ball after he reached base on a double.

Muehlenkamp said he was happy with his team's offensive production for both games. "Offensively it was a good day for us. Any time you can outscore your opponents 41-6 it's a good day."

Gothenburg scored one run in the fifth inning and one in the seventh.

With the district championship, the Juniors now advance to state competition Friday at Seward.

The Juniors will play their first game against Ogallala, the Area 7 champion, at 11 a.m.

With his team playing great baseball, Muehlenkamp said he is thrilled to play at the state tournament.

"To go to state is exciting and it's a fun experience. For our team to go to state and know they are one of the top eight teams in the state is exciting.

"There is going to be some good competition, but we will match up well against the other teams there."

Gothenburg 000 010 1 -- 2 3 4

McCook 340 100 x -- 8 10 2

M -- Ross Jones. G -- Aaron Mitchell. W -- Jones. L -- Mitchell. 1B -- Mark Rogers, Tyler Wilson (2), Mason Pohl (2), Brad Potthoff, Evan Koetter, M. John Rhinehart, Chad Dachtler, Andy Jobman, G. 2B -- Rogers (2), Brendan Liess, M.

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