Gothenburg Melons juniors earn Western Division championship title
The Gothenburg Melons juniors baseball team gathers for a team photo with their Western Division championship trophy Monday after winning their last home game over Cambridge/Arapahoe.
The Gothenburg Melons juniors finished the regular season with an 18-3 record to claim the Western Division championship title in the Mid Nebraska Baseball League.
On Sunday, the Melons faced Grand Island Pro Team Design 16U, representative of the Eastern Division, in the championship game. Gothenburg lost 11-3.
The Melons hosted their final regular season home game Monday against Cambridge/Arapahoe Gladiators.
Gothenburg won 6-5 in a walk-off fashion on a line drive single from Kale Dea.
Callen Johnson scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Gunner Thompson stepped on the mound to pitch for the Melons in the top of the first inning.
Thompson gave up a walk to the first batter before Gothenburg earned the first out on a pick-off at second base. Thompson struck out the second batter.
The Melons left the top of the first after Brigham Ricley caught a fly ball in center field.
Johnson started the batting line-up for the Melons, earning a walk after being hit by a pitch.
Jaxon Earll gave the Gladiators their first out on a ground ball to first base.
Evan Geiser grounded out to the pitcher, but the hit put Johnson across home.
The first inning closed after William McVay grounded out.
In the top of the second, Gothenburg grabbed their first out on a ground ball to Geiser at second to McVay at first.
Thompson gave up a walk before the Melons earned back-to-back outs.
The Gladiators got two quick outs after Andrew Salomon and Dea hit fly outs.
Thompson got on with a ground ball to center field and Gared Sabin followed with a walk.
Cannon Holthaus entered the game as a courtesy runner for Thompson.
A balk by the Gladiator pitcher gave Holthaus a run scored. The Melons led 2-0.
The second inning closed after Ricley struck out.
McVay earned the first out for the Melons on a ground ball at first base in the top of the third.
Thompson pitched a second strikeout before giving up a walk on a hit by pitch.
Gothenburg claimed the third out on a ground ball.
The Gladiators went three up and three out in the bottom of the third.
Johnson popped out to shortstop, Earll popped out to second base and Geiser flew out to center field.
Cambridge/Arapahoe got the bases loaded after Gothenburg gave up a second hit.
The Gladiators scored back-to-back runs to tie the game 2-2 with one out against them.
Thompson pitched straight strikeouts to close the half-inning.
McVay drew a walk to start the Melons off in the bottom of the fourth.
Salomon grounded into fielder's choice and McVay got out taking second base.
Dea flew out to left field for the Gladiators' second out and Thompson flew out to left field to close the fourth.
The Melons gave up back-to-back errors to put two Gladiator runners on.
The Gladiators took a 3-2 after stealing home then scored a second run on a single base hit to center field.
Gothenburg stopped the Gladiators from scoring again after collecting three straight outs.
The Melons had two outs against them before scoring one run to pull behind 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
The fifth inning closed after Geiser grounded out.
Earll pitched two strikeouts in the Melons' three up and three down in the top of the sixth.
McVay drew a walk as the lead-off batter in the bottom of the sixth. Salomon followed with a ground out.
The game was tied 4-4 after McVay scored on a balk by the pitcher.
A triple base hit for Thompson put Dea across home as the Melons took the lead.
The Gladiators put a stop to Gothenburg's scoring after picking up back-to-back outs. Sabin flew out to second base and Ricley grounded out.
Gothenburg gave up two straight hits before the Gladiators scored the tying run.
Earll earned the second out for the Melons with a strikeout.
The seventh inning closed after Ricley caught the third out in center field.
Johnson drew a walk in the bottom of the seventh before Earll singled on a ground ball.
Geiser was intentionally walked that got the bases loaded for the Melons.
The Gladiators struck out McVay for their first out in the bottom of the seventh.
Salomon popped out to the pitcher for the second out, keeping the bases loaded.
Dea stepped up to bat. He singled on a line drive to left field, putting Johnson across home to score the walk-off winning run.
Gothenburg received the No. 1 spot in the Area B6 tournament in Minden.
The Melons faced Broken Bow in the first round Friday afternoon.
