MABA 10-year-olds heading for World Series

By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

BURLINGTON, COLO. — The Mineral Area 10-Year-old All-Stars have earned a trip to Abbeville, Louisiana to play in the 2008 Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series on August 8. The All-Stars remained undefeated in post-season play with a 10-8, seven-inning win over SE Colorado in the Midwest Regional championship game on Monday.

Representing Missouri after winning the district and state championships in straight games, the All-Stars (10-0) went on to do the same in the Midwest Region Tournament. They had to use a little extra to make it happen in the championship game by playing seven innings instead of the regulation six.

After a first-inning run by SE Colorado, the All-Stars had their troubles getting on the board until in the fourth inning they exploded with what looked to be a tournament-ending, six-run inning. It wasn’t.

SE Colorado scored one in the fifth inning and then bounced back with four runs of their own in the sixth to force overtime. With the result of the game up in the air, MABA’s offense stepped it up a gear in the seventh inning.

Andres Castro led things off with a double, and after a single by Brennan White, Castro scored on a single by Jake Bridges. Logan Winder followed with an RBI single, and Drew Harlow put the cap on things with a drive to the outfield fence for a two-run triple.

SE Colorado was able to score two in their turn at the plate, and with two outs and runners on first and third, they looked very much alive when a shot off the bat was headed for a single into the hole between the first and second baseman.

The hit would not transpire as Brayden Krause made a diving stop of the baseball, and to the delight of his teammates and their parents and the fans who made the trip, he was able to get up and make the throw to first in time to end the game.

In the All-Stars blow-out fourth inning, Bridges had a two-RBI double and Keenan Johnson and Drew Harlow both had RBI singles.

Brandt Busenbark pitched five-and-two-thirds innings, striking out four batters and giving up six hits and one walk for the win. Logan Winder finished out the pitching duties in the seventh inning.  

Adding to his triple, Harlow also had three singles in the game. Bridges hit two doubles and a single, and Logan Winder hit three singles. Castro and Johnson both hit a double and a single, and White hit two singles, Conner Proffer hit a double and Busenbark hit one single.

The opening ceremonies for the World Series game will be on Thursday, August 7, and the All-Stars will play on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the host team, Abbeville.