FCB Juniors just one win from state!

Monday, July 9, 2018
The ball simply was simply not moving fast enough to beat Coady Armstrong’s slide under a tag during First Central Bank’s 17-9 win over Kearney County Sunday afternoon. Armstrong delivered one of many daring scores throughout the B-6 area torunament weekend that saw FCB score 38 runs in three tournament wins.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — The crushing Joel Carter blast far over Kearney County’s center fielder sent a sizzling clear message on Sunday:

No one is close to catching McCook’s First Central Bank Juniors so far through this B-6 area baseball tournament.

Oh, one team will still have a chance in Tuesday night’s championship round. Either Gothenburg or Kearney County will have to beat the FCB Juniors twice.

Good luck. Nobody finished within seven runs of McCook on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

McCook (20-8 season record) unleashed its best offensive attack in Sunday’s pivotal “winner’s bracket game” featuring both teams with 2-0 tourney records.

Tanner Jacobs scored four runs after reaching base all four at-bats on a double, single and two walks.

Colton Stevens circled the bases three times while Ty Stevens doubled and drove home three.

Tate Felber and Konor Rakes added two hits each.

Yet none could match Carter’s triple that sent the center fielder dashing back almost to that Jaycees Complex fence.

Carter plated two more runs which made it 17-4, more than enough to withstand a final five-run K.C. comeback attempt.

Brennan Runge did belt a home run for the area’s No. 4 seed, but McCook still outhit Kearney County 11-6.

Konor Rakes earned the win by striking out eight and only permitting one earned run.

The FCB team earned a valuable Monday off to rest pitchers and get ready for Tuesday’s B-6 title round.

Kearney County and Gothenburg play a 6 p.m. game tonight that will determine FCB’s opponent. K.C. conquered the Melons on Saturday to earn the Sunday shot at No. 1 McCook.

Other FCB leaders on Sunday were Matthew Van Pelt (three runs scored), Logan Barenberg (RBI) and Coady Armstrong (run, RBI)

Ty Stevens worked 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with Barenberg pitching the final 1 2/3.

Oliver Lambs started for Kearney County.

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