subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Published August 02, 2008 01:18 am -

Cherokee bows in regional opener



By Greg Mengelt

sports@joplinglobe.com

INDIANAPOLIS — Kansas Little League champion Cherokee gave up nine runs in the third inning and dropped its Midwest Regional opener 15-3 in five innings to Rapid City, S.D., on Friday.

Rapid City had six hits and a grand slam in the pivotal third inning, then added six more runs in the fifth inning to force the 10-run rule at Stokely Field in Indianapolis.

Despite the loss, Cherokee coach Bryan Burdette was upbeat about his team’s chance to come back and make a run in the tournament.

“We have three more games guaranteed,” Burdette explained. “We didn’t have to win this game to get to (the semifinals), and that’s our goal, to play on Thursday. It’s a long tournament. We have to keep our heads up and play better.”

The back-to-back Kansas state champions will get a shot at their first win of the tournament today at 4:30 p.m. against Nebraska champion, Kearney. Kearney lost a 2-0, sixth-inning lead Friday and fell to Coon Rapids, Minn., 3-2.

Burdette spent about 10 minutes in the dugout with his team after the game. His message?

“Just keep our heads up,” he recounted. “We’ve been here before where we’ve lost a game and came back. I fully feel that we’ll come back.”

Cherokee jumped on top early when Dustin Saporito led off the second inning with a home run to right-center field. Later in the inning, Travis Trayer walked and Jalen Merrell singled, but both were stranded on base.

Rapid City responded quickly and emphatically. The first six Rapid City batters reached and scored in the third. After Matt Minnick doubled to start the inning, Cherokee starter Bryce Burdette walked three straight, tying the score at 1-1. The next batter, Jesse Riddle, hit a line drive that just cleared the center-field fence for a grand slam.

When Minnick doubled home Jonah Hansen with his second double of the inning, the South Dakota champions led 9-1.

“That was a big inning for them,” Coach Burdette said. “They say it’s usually one inning that (makes the difference), and that was it for them.”

Rapid City finished with 11 hits to Cherokee’s five. Bryce Burdette had two of Cherokee’s five hits and scored once.

“It wasn’t our best game, obviously, but I don’t feel like we played awfully bad,” Coach Burdette said. “They just hit the ball well. As a coach, we’d say ‘move to the left,’ and they’d hit it to the right. They just hit the ball where we weren’t.”



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!



Featured Jobs

ORTHOPAEDIC
Specialist of the Four States is currently accepting applications for the following postiions: Physical Therapist, Occcu...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

VOLKSWAGEN, 1998 BEETLE,
black, 5 speed, looks, runs and drives great, only 84,000 miles, $3400. 417-621-0850....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

NO CREDIT NEEDED QUALIFY
for 0 down Own completely remodeled 2/2 16x80 single section manufacturered home, 2 acres, trees, corner lot, large deck...>MORE

1995 16x72 2 BR, 2 BA,
fully furnished, all appliances, 1 owner, beautiful, smoke free, must move. $17,500. (417)423-2385....>MORE

NO CREDIT
needed qualify for 0 down Own completely remodeled 3/2 16x80 single section manufacturered home, 2 acres, new front deck...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

BASS BOAT, 2005
Lowe aluminum, 17’, 2005 90 hp Mercury, 2006 trailer, excellent shape, low hours. $7,500. (417)776-8846 evenings or 417-...>MORE

TEA CUP
Chihuahua pup, female, shots, wormed. Information (417)843-2735...>MORE

CRAFTSMAN
radial 10” arm saw; skil saw 7 1/4”; Singer Featherweight machine; clocks/pocket watches; 7.62-54 rifle, accessories; Ca...>MORE

1993 KUBOTA 1560
lawn tractor, 42” cut with bagger, $800. (417)364-8231....>MORE

10 YEAR OLD BUCKSKIN
mare, 14-hands, broke for anyone, $750; miniature Jack and bred Jenny, $400 pair. (417)434-3700....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition