Brady's team also won their state championship last weekend. This year Brady is playing all-stars in Cherokee with their Little League. We beat Riverton in the championship game for the win. We now go to Indianapolis, Indiana for the regional tournament.
By MATTHEW CLARK
The Morning Sun
Posted Jul 19, 2009 @ 12:28 AM
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BAXTER SPRINGS — .For the Cherokee 11-12 All-Star baseball team, it was an uphill battle to get to their third straight state championship game.
A loss to Riverton in the South Division tournament championship did not seem to deter Cherokee though.
Cherokee claimed their third straight title by way of a win over their South Division arch rival Saturday night in the Little League 11-12 State baseball tournament championship at Baxter Springs.
“It feels great,” said Cherokee coach Bryan Burdette.
For Burdette, it marks his second state title in as many years and earns his team a trip to Indianapolis.
But, it did not come easy.
Cherokee looked as if they were going to make it simple in the bottom of the first inning by scoring five runs.
Ryan Rakestraw led off with a single and Caleb Biacarelli followed with a bunt. Jace Burdette hit an RBI single and Mason Bass walked to load the bases.
Jared Watson walked to score Biacarelli and Burdette followed by scoring on a wild pitch. Shado Jacobs hit an RBI single to score Bass and, with two outs, Devon Gideon reached base on an error to score Watson.
But, Riverton came back in the top of the second when Kyle Wilkns parked a grand slam on the first pitch he swung at to tie the game 5-5.
It did not take long for Cherokee to retake the lead as they scored a run in the second and two more in the fourth to hold a 8-5 advantage.
However, Riverton chipped away by scoring two runs of their own in the top of the fifth.
Holding a one-run lead, Cherokee shut the door with a four-run fifth — all with two outs.
Rakestraw walked and Biacarelli beat out and infield overthrow that moved Rakestraw to third. Jace Burdette hit a shot to right field that was dropped by the Riverton fielder to score both Rakestraw and Biacarelli then, Jace Burdette was awarded second on interference.
A bobbled ball scored Jace Burdette and Watson laid down an RBI bunt to score Bass.
That was enough as relief pitcher Brady Colvin struck out a pair of batters in the top of the sixth to help close out the game.“They came back and tied it,” Bryan Burdette said. “Riverton is a great team and they are going to be around next year.”
Rakestraw pitched five innings and struck out five batters to earn the championship win.
