Gothenburg juniors' 'incredible' season ends after losing winner-takes-all championship game to Holdrege
Gothenburg's Jaxon Earll pitches a strikeout Sunday against Holdrege in the semifinal in Minden.
Gothenburg's Gunner Thompson reaches out to grab the ball for an out at first championship game Tuesday against Holdrege in Minden.
Gothenburg's William McVay pitches a strikeout to close the sixth inning in the second championship game Tuesday against Holdrege in Minden.
The Gothenburg Melons juniors pose for a group photo with the B-6 Area Juniors Tournament runner-up plaque after losing 7-5 to Holdrege in the second championship game Tuesday in Minden.
The Gothenburg Melons juniors fell short in a 7-5 loss to Holdrege Phelps Medical Group in the second game of the B-6 Junior Area Tournament Tuesday in Minden.
Earlier in the evening, the Melons won 7-2 to force the second game.
The Melons reached the championship after defeating Valparaiso Post 371/Post 244 7-5 in the consolation semifinal.
GAME 2
Holdrege scored two runs in the bottom of the first and two runs in the second to lead 4-0.
Holdrege jumped out to a 5-0 lead after scoring one run in the bottom of the third.
Gunner Thompson notched a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the first and one in the bottom of the second.
Gothenburg was held scoreless in the fourth despite getting two on when Thompson grounded out to end the inning.
Three straight Holdrege walk by Melon pitcher Kale Dea loaded the bases to start the bottom of the fourth..Â
However, Gared Sabin took the mound to replace Dea, picking up back-to-back outs to close the frame.
Brigham Ricley drew a walk as the lead-off batter in the fifth and Blake Brown earned a trip to first after being hit by a pitch.
Ricley then scored the Melons' first run on a wild pitch. Jaxon Earll singled on a grounder, scoring Callen Johnson.
Gothenburg pulled within two runs after Evan Geiser reached on an error with Earll scoring on the play.
William McVay followed with a single on a ground ball to second. McVay was out at second on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Dea.
A balk by the Holdrege pitcher gave Geiser a run scored to pull the Melons within one at 5-4.
The top of the fifth ended with a Andrew Salomon strike out at the plate.
McVay took the mound in the bottom of the fifth for Gothenburg, giving up a lead-off walk, but the Melons got the next three batters out at McVay picked up his first strikeout.
After Thompson grounded out in the top of the sixth, Ricley singled on a line to right. Brown and Johnson then drew walks to load the bases.
Ricley tied the game at 5-5 on a wild pitch moments later.
Earll singled on a fly to left, but Brown was held up at third. Geiser grounded into a double play to end the frame.
McVay gave up two walks in the bottom of the sixth and Holdrege took the lead 6-5 after a run scored on a sacrifice bunt.
A wild pitch from McVay gave Holdrege a 7-5 lead with two outs.
McVay closed out the sixth inning with a strikeout.
Gothenburg needed to score two runs in the seventh inning to keep the game going, but Holdrege had other plans to hold on to the lead.
McVay grounded out to shortstop to lead-off. Dea singled on a fly to right to get one Melon runner on.
Dea was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice off of Salomon’s bat.
A wild pitch put Salomon in scoring position, but he was left on base after Thompson grounded out to second for Holdrege's third out.
Gothenburg finished their season with a 22-5 record as the B-6 Area Tournament runners-up.
GAME 1
Johnson started on the mound for the Melons in the top of the first in the first championship game, giving up one hit but allowing no runs.
Earll drew a walk after Johnson struck out in the bottom of the first. Geiser followed with a single on a grounder to right. McVay grounded out, but Earll scored the Melons' first run on the play.
The first inning closed after Dea grounded out.
Gothenburg went three up and three down in the top of the second. Johnson notched his first strikeout.
Thompson and Ricley got on with singles in the bottom of the second, but Holdrege grabbed back-to-back outs to close the inning.
Johnson had two strikeouts early in the top of the third, but Holdrege took a 2-1 lead after two runs scored on a Dea error at second.
The third out came at second on a fielder's choice.
Earll kicked off the bottom of the third with a fly to center and Geiser was hit by a pitch.
Earll then scored the tying run when McVay singled down the third base line.
Thompson drew a walk to load the bases for Gothenburg, but the third inning closed with Ricley striking out.
A single followed by a Melon error put two runners on for Holdrege in the top of the fourth.
Johnson ended the half-inning with a strikeout.
The Melons were held from scoring in the bottom of the fourth. Brown struck out, Johnson flew to center and Geiser flew to second. Earll had a single, but was left on first.
Johnson gave up a hit in the top of the fifth, but held Holdrege from scoring.
A play at home on a triple kept a Holdrege run from being scored.
McVay was a hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fifth, but was left on after Holdrege earned three straight outs.
Johnson notched a strikeout in the Melons' three up and three down sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ricley led off with a ground out before Brown singled on a line to left. Johnson reached on an error.
The Melons broke the tie after Earll turned in an RBI single, with Brown scoring on the throw.
Holdrege changed pitchers before Geiser's at bat and he singled on a fly to right. Johnson scored, putting Gothenburg up 4-2.
An error by Holdrege put McVay at first after his grounder. The hit loaded the bases.
Earll scored on a balk by Holdrege's pitcher.
Dea hit a line to center, picking up an RBI as Geiser scored.
The Melons scored the final run on a Salomon ground out, taking a 7-2 lead with two outs.
Thompson flew out to Holdrege's pitcher to close the sixth inning.
Gothenburg went three up and three out in the top of the seventh to claim the win.
