CVL 15-and-under all-stars third at state

The 15-year-old Cottonwood Valley League All-Stars team finished third last week at the Babe Ruth state tournament. Pictured are: front row (from left) head coach Kelly Nelson, assistant coach Galen Wiens, assistant coach Scot Loyd, Dakota Stimpson, Reed Wiens, Caleb Sovde; back row, Nick Bray, Jordan Gagnebin, Caleb Bettles, Ethan Loyd, Tanner Klingensmith, Lane Wiens, Kyle Riffel, Ryan Grant, Hunter Pearson. Not pictured: Preston Busenitz. The Cottonwood Valley League All-Stars 15-year-old team earned third place at the Babe Ruth state tournament last week.

Following a rain delay that postponed Monday?s games to Tuesday, CVL once again faced the Mid-State League All-Stars team they faced in the District 4 championship. This time, the CVK team prevailed, 11-4.

CVL built a 5-0 lead, but Mid-State drew within 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

CVL answered with a five-run fifth inning that sealed the game.

Dakota Stimpson managed a triple and had two runs batted in. Nick Bray hit a double and two singles and had two RBIs. Ethan Loyd contributed three singles and three RBIs. Jordan Gagnebin had two singles and one RBI, and Kyle Riffel had two singles.

Tanner Klingensmith earned the win, giving up five hits and one earned run while walking three and striking out five.

With the win, CVL advanced to the semifinal game against Spring River. CVL got on the board first, but Spring River claimed a 3-2 lead with three unearned runs in the third inning and later extended the lead to 8-2.

?In what has become a trademark of this team, CVL fought to the very end, getting two (runs) in the seventh and leaving the bases loaded,? coach Kelly Nelson said.

Despite the effort, CVL lost 8-4, to claim third place.

Loyd and Dakota Stimpson each managed one double and one single. Ryan Grant hit a double and had one RBI, while Klingensmith had two singles and three RBIs.

Bray pitched into the sixth inning before being relieved by Grant.

?Nick pitched a great game against a really good-hitting team,? Nelson said. ?He made some really great pitches that resulted in balls that should have been outs, but we just couldn?t make the play.

?I think playing back-to-back games in temps over 100 got us tired and we lost focus.?

Nelson praised the team?s effort.

?The boys really fought hard the whole tourney and played with a lot of enthusiasm and class,? he said. ?The Babe Ruth director praised the boys for the way they played the game the right way and rewarded them with the sportsmanship trophy.

?Winning third place in the state was a great accomplishment for these boys. It wasn?t where they wanted to finish, but they gave it their all the whole way.?

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