Gothenburg juniors fall to Holdrege in B-6 Junior Area Tournament semifinal
Gothenburg's Jaxon Earll pitches a strikeout in the top of the first inning Friday against Broken Bow in the B-6 Junior Area Tournament in Minden.
Gothenburg's Kale Dea tags the Broken Bow player for an out at second base Friday in the first round of the Area B-6 Juniors Tournament in Minden.
Gothenburg's Gunner Thompson connects a foul ball hit in the bottom of the first inning Friday against Broken Bow in Minden.
Gothenburg's Callen Johnson prepares to pitch in the top of the fourth inning in the first round of the B-6 Area Juniors Tournament against Broken Bow Friday in Minden.
The Gothenburg Post 64 Melons juniors legion baseball team dropped their semifinal game of the B-6 Junior Area Tournament Sunday 7-4 to Holdrege Phelps Medical Group.
Gothenburg faced off against Valparaiso Post 371/Post 244 juniors Monday in the consolation semifinal.
The Melons defeated Minden Post 94 juniors Saturday night 12-7 in the quarterfinal.
Gothenburg reached the quarterfinal after winning 9-1 over Broken Bow in the opening round Friday.
SEMIFINAL
Gothenburg held onto a 4-2 lead through the top of the fifth inning before giving up five runs in the bottom of the fifth to Holdrege.
Jaxon Earll started on the mound for the Melons in the bottom of the first, picking up all three outs on strikeouts.
The Melons got the bases loaded in the top of the second, but a pop fly caught in left field by Earll closed the half-inning.
Despite giving up a walk in the bottom of the second, Gothenburg's defense held strong to keep the first two innings scoreless. Earll recorded a strikeout as the third out.
Evan Geiser kicked off the third inning with a walk after being hit by a pitch.
Kale Dea drew a walk after William McVay grounded out.
Holdrege changed pitchers before Andrew Salomon stepped up to bat.
Gothenburg was the first to score a run after Geiser stole home.
Salomon hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field that put Dea across home, putting the Melons up 2-0.
Holdrege scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Melons closed the third after an out at home.
Brigham Ricley led off with a grounder and reached on an error in the top of the fourth.
A line drive to right field by Callen Johnson put Gothenburg up 3-2 after Ricley scored.
Geiser put the ball into play with a line drive to right field, but a ground out for McVay gave Holdrege the third out.
Earll collected a strikeout in the Melons three up and three down in the bottom of the fourth.
A Holdrege error put Dea safely on first base to start the top of the fifth.
Thompson's at bat turned into an RBI single, putting Dea across home.
Gothenburg jumped out to a 4-2 lead as Ricley stepped to the plate.
The Melons got the bases loaded after Gared Sabin's grounder down third base.
Holdrege called a timeout to change pitchers before Johnson's at bat. Johnson struck out and Earll lined out to center field.
Holdrege hit back-to-back singles to pull behind 4-3 in the beginning of the bottom of the fifth.
Gothenburg gave up a walk followed by an error, allowing Holdrege to load the bases.
Another hit drove in two Holdrege runs as they took the lead 5-4.
The Melon defense continued to crumble after a line drive hit awarded Holdrege to take a two-run lead with one out.
McVay, pitching, was called for a balk that put Holdrege up 7-4.
Gothenburg used a double play to close the fifth inning behind three runs.
Geiser earned a walk after being hit by a pitch in the top of the sixth before McVay was out on a pop fly to center field.
Dea singled on a line drive to right field, but a double play by Holdrege kept the Melons from scoring.
Gothenburg went three up and three down in the bottom of the sixth with McVay collecting a strikeout.
The Melons had one final chance to change the outcome of the game in the top of the seventh inning, but Holdrege had other plans.
Holdrege delivered a three up and three down to head to the championship game.
Thompson grounded out, Ricley grounded out and Sabin flew out to left field.
QUARTERFINAL
Johnson started on the mound for the Melons, pitching a strikeout on the lead-off batter.
A Melon error gave Minden two runners on before a walk gave them bases loaded.
Minden took a 2-0 after scoring back-to-back runs in the top of the first.
In the bottom of the first, Johnson started with a single base hit before Earll grounded into fielder's choice. Johnson was out advancing to second base.
Geiser reached on an error by Minden. McVay followed with a ground ball hit. Earll scored.
Dea was hit by a pitch to give Gothenburg bases loaded.
Minden earned their second out after Salomon grounded into fielder's choice. Geiser got out taking home.
McVay and Dea scored on Thompson's fly ball hit to left field, putting the Melons up 3-2.
Ricley flew out into foul territory for the third out to close the first inning.
Gothenburg gave up a hit in the top of the second before picking up two outs on a double play.
The third out came after a ground ball hit to Geiser at shortstop.
Minden secured back-to-back outs against Blake Brown and Johnson in the bottom of the second.
Earll hit a ground ball to give the Melons one runner on before Geiser hit a pop fly to left field for Minden's third out.
Gothenburg gave up a hit before grabbing three straight outs in the top of the third.
The Melons had one out against them after McVay lined out to third base.
Dea doubled on a line drive to right field before Salomon hit a double to left field. Dea scored, putting the Melons up 4-2.
Thompson grounded out to first base for two outs. Ricley followed with a single, putting Salomon across home.
Brown hit a fly ball to center field to give the Melons two runners on.
The third inning closed after Johnson struck out. Gothenburg led 5-2.
Minden scored two runs to pull behind 5-4 on a Melon error.
A double base hit for Minden tied the game at 5-5 before Gothenburg picked up three straight outs.
Earll started the bottom of the fourth with a single to center field. Geiser was out on a pop fly.
McVay hit a line drive to left field before Dea doubled on a fly ball to left field. Earll scored, putting the Melons up 6-5.
Gothenburg pulled ahead 7-5 after Salomon singled on a ground ball down third base. McVay scored.
Thompson got the bases loaded after a single on a grounder.
Ricley hit an RBI single on a ground ball into fielder's choice. Dea scored, but Thompson was out taking second base.
The fourth inning closed after Brown struck out.
Geiser pitched two strikeouts in the top of the fifth as the Melons went three up and three down.
Johnson led off with a single to left field. He stole second base during Earll's at bat.
Earll hit a ground ball and reached on an error. The hit put Johnson across home, putting the Melons up 9-5.
Minden stopped the Melons from scoring more runs after picking up three straight outs.
Gothenburg gave up two runs in the top of the sixth inning, allowing Minden to pull behind 9-7. Geiser pitched two strikeouts.
Dea flew out to center field and Salomon got out on a foul tip to star the bottom of the sixth.
Thompson hit a line drive double to right field before Ricley singled on a grounder. Thompson scored on an error.
Brown singled down third base to give the Melons two runners on.
Gothenburg went up 12-7 after Johnson hit a two-run RBI double to center field. Ricley and Brown scored.
Earll drew a walk, but Geiser lined out to center field to close the sixth.
Minden's lead-off batter got on after a wild pitch on a dropped third strike.
McVay, pitching, followed with three straight strikeouts to end the night with the Melons winning 12-7.
FIRST ROUND
Gothenburg dominated the opening round of the tournament Friday against Broken Bow, winning 9-1.
Earll pitched two strikeouts in the Melons' three up and three down in the top of the first.
Johnson, Earll and Geiser got on with hits to start the bottom of the first.
McVay drew a walk to earn the Melons a forced run scored. Johnson scored.
Geiser and McVay advanced bases on a defensive indifference before Geiser scored on a wild pitch.
Salomon struck out to give Broken Bow their second out.
The Melons got the bases loaded after Thompson drew a walk.
Ricley singled on a ground ball, putting two runs in on a Broken Bow error.
Gothenburg led 4-0 before Brown stepped to the plate.
Brown and Johnson had back-to-back RBI hits, putting Gothenburg up 6-0.
Earll hit a line drive two-run RBI to center field. Brown and Johnson scored.
The first inning closed after Geiser was caught stealing second base.
Gothenburg led 8-0 to start the second inning.
Earll pitched three straight strikeouts in the top of the second.
Broken Bow turned in a three up and three down in the bottom of the inning.
Earll was hot on the mound, collecting three more strikeouts in the top of the third.
The Melons couldn't get the bats going in the bottom of the inning, giving up three straight outs.
Johnson took the mound for the Melons in the top of the fourth. He gave up a walk and a hit before pitching a strikeout.
Broken Bow scored their only run in the top of the fourth on a single base hit before Gothenburg was able to get the third out.
Broken Bow went three up and three down in the bottom of the fourth.
Gothenburg kept Broken Bow from scoring in the top of the fifth after a double play that followed Johnson's strikeout.
McVay started the bottom of the fifth with a ground out to second base before Dea was hit by a pitch.
Salomon grounded into fielder's choice, getting Dea out at second base.
Thompson earned a walk to put two runners on.
The game ended with the Melons winning 9-1 after a balk by Broken Bow's pitcher awarded Salomon a run scored.
