Blue Claws claim Sluggers baseball title

Monday, June 28, 2010
Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Joey Gonzales of the Pepsi Blue Claws watches the baseball leave his bat in Sunday's championship game in the McCook Midget Baseball Sluggers Division Tournament at Felling Field. Gonzales beat the throw to first base on his infield grounder and teammate Preston Carbaugh scored the winning run in Pepsi's 9-8 victory over the Bison Dental Knights.

Baseball fans were treated to an exciting finish in the championship game at the 2010 McCook Midget Baseball Sluggers Division Tournament.

The Pepsi Blue Claws rallied for a 9-8 victory over the Bison Dental Knights to win the post-season tournament championship Sunday, June 27, at Felling Field.

The Sluggers Division uses a machine to pitch to batters, with team coaches feeding balls into the machine each pitch.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette It's tough duty for Pepsi Blue Claws catcher Colton Craig as he works hard to knock down the ball at the Midget Baseball Sluggers Tournament.

Joe Gonzales was the hero for the Blue Claws. Gonzales beat out an infield grounder, allowing teammate Preston Carbaugh to score the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning Sunday.

Bison Dental rallied to take an 8-7 lead in the top of the fifth frame. Pepsi came to bat needing at least one run to keep their championship hopes alive.

Joseph Kain beat the throw to first on an infield grounder to lead off the inning for the Blue Claws. Carbaugh then delivered a triple to score Kain with the tying run and set up Gonzales for the winning hit.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Bison Dental Knights hitter Luke Roberts fouls off a pitch in the Sluggers Division Midget Baseball Tournament Saturday at Felling Field.

The Pepsi team also won the regular-season Sluggers Division league championship.

Pepsi Blue Claws team members include Kyler Bortner, Wade Burket, Preston Carbaugh, Colton Craig, Joey Gonzales, D.J. Gross, Joseph Kain, Elijah Kendall, James Mockery, Paxton Terry and Carson Tuxhorn. Team coaches include Wayne Bortner, Jerry Carbaugh, Mark Chitwood and Troy Gonzales.

The team members of the first- and second-place teams received medals after Sunday's championship game. The players lined up at third base and raced to home plate, sliding into the base to receive their medals.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Pepsi Blue Claws outfielder Kyler Bortner fires the ball into the infield after a hit by the Bison Dental Knights Saturday in the McCook Midget Baseball Sluggers Division Tournament at Felling Field.
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