 Serving Excelsior Springs since 1889
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Sharks finish great season at Show Me Games
Pictured, members of the 17-4 KC Sharks pose for a picture after the season. Pictured from left to right, front row, Coach Jim Zacny, Jordan Wells, Jordan Zacny, Derek Oaks, Derek Rice, Matt Hutchins, Coach Tom Wells; second row, Dugout Helper Bryce Baldridge, Derrick Leeper, Brett Williams, Josh Morris, Josh Chrisp, Tom Paterson, Eric Opperman, Manager Ralph Crawford, Eric Crawford. (Submitted photo)
The KC Sharks 18U Baseball Team based out of Excelsior Springs competed July 23-25 in the Missouri Show Me State Games in Columbia. The Sharks headed to Columbia with a 13-4 league record, losing two of those games by only one run. After returning home from the SMSG, the Sharks finished out their league season with another win. The team completed their season with a 17-4 record, team batting average of .368, team on base percentage of .545 and outscoring their opponents 187-83.
The Sharks faced Ashland/Boone County Baseball in the first game of the tournament on Friday evening. Jordan Wells took the mound and recorded 11 strikeouts and only one walk in the 3-1 win. Josh Morris assisted behind the plate, gunning down two attempted base staelers. The KC Sharks were down 1-0 as they headed into the top of the 7th inning of the game. Eric Crawford reached first base on a single to left, followed by a couple of walked batters, eventually scoring Crawford on a walk issued to Brett Williams. Derek Rice reached first safely on a bases loaded suicide squeeze and scoring Derrick Leeper safely home on the play. Eric Opperman would score Matt Hutchins for the final run of the game securing the 3-1 victory.
On Saturday morning, the KC Sharks faced off in a game against Brunswick. The Sharks were down 1-0 heading into the fourth inning of play. Josh Morris began the hitting with a single to left field. Jordan Wells would follow that up with a double to left field and Eric Crawford came to the plate with two on to hit a single to right scoring Morris and Wells. In the top of the fifth inning, the Sharks would start the hitting off with Williams hitting a leadoff single to right field, followed by another singlt to right off the bat of Jordan Zacny. Opperman would score Williams and Zacny off his his single. Wells would score another run from his RBI single for a 5-1 Sharks lead. Derek Oaks started on the hill for the Sharks, recording three strikeouts and zero walks through first four innings of play. The Sharks would break open from the 5-5 tie with Josh Chrisp came in for relief during the fifth inning when Brunswick tied the score up 5-5. In the top of the sixth inning, Crawford was issued a lead off walk when Matt Hutchins came to the plate. Hutchins would go yard with a two run shot to right field. Williams would record another single as would Morris and Wells. Chrisp recorded 4 strikeouts in his two innings on the mound to finish the game with a 10-5 Sharks victory.
Saturday evening the Sharks would return to the fields for not only their final pool play game, but because of heavy rain on Saturday evening, it would be their final Show Me State Games competition of the weekend. The Sharks made their final game memorable, spreading Pacific after posting 14 runs over four innings.
Over the course of the weekend, the KC Sharks would score 27 runs off of 25 hits while the pitching staff and defense would allow 8 runs with a .985 fielding percentage. The pitchers recorded a total of 16 strikeouts with an opposing team batting average of .185 compared to the Sharks team batting average of .357.
The team is coached by Ralph Crawford and Jim Zacny from Excelsior Springs and Tom Wells from Kansas City. Players are from Excelsior Springs, Hamilton, Independence, Kansas City, St. Joseph and Liberty. It has been a great season for the players, coaches, family, friends and fans. We have a hard working group of kids and a great group of support in the stands that has once again made for a great season of baseball and wonderful memories for all involved with the team. The KC Sharks have just two more seasons remaining in the youth age groups and will wrap up the “Second Generation KC Sharks” in the spring of 2011 when they celebrate 20 seasons of play.
Want to read more? For complete sports news coverage, subscribe to the Excelsior Springs Standard. Sign up for the Standard today and receive one month free delivery and our special Profile 2009 edition!
Return to top
|
|
|
|
