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Juniors start McCook's championship week today
McCOOK, Neb. — Dangerous Kearney County only inspires First Central Bank to be even more laser-focused on today’s B-6 area title contest.
“This has been our No. 1 goal to get to the district title game,” first-coach Kaden Sitzman declared about his Junior Legion baseball team. “Yeah, we’re getting excited (about going to state) but we have one more win to get. And Kearney County has some big hitters.”
It’s true the Minden-based team led 6-2 at McCook last week until FCB unleashed a 12-run fifth inning to win 14-6.
Sunday’s rematch featured Kearney County plating eight runs during the last three innings.
However, FCB built an early 9-1 lead and eventually won again 17-9.
Now the teams play a third time today at the Jaycees Complex, and Sitzman has an ace in his arsenal with rested starter Jordan Chauncy.
Chauncy hasn’t thrown one pitch during the B-6 tourney, but owns a 5-0 record while striking out a team-best 40 through 31 1/3 innings.
“He’s our strikeout guy,” Sitzman confirmed.
J.C. last worked against Kearney County last week. He pitched four innings without allowing an earned run.
Meanwhile, Kearney County might bring a “committee” to the mound. The area’s No. 4 seed will be playing its fifth game since Friday after winning a 7-5 elimination game over Gothenburg Monday evening.
If FCB drops this 5:30 p.m. game, Kearney County would still need another win in the second title game which would follow about 30 minutes later.
“We don’t want to do that,” Sitzman confirmed. “We want to finish it with the first game tonight. Our mindset all season is to get here and be ready to go.”
One more win means McCook would go to the Class B Juniors state tournament in Columbus starting on Friday.
FCB (20-8 record) likely would likely challenge Area 3 champion Bennington, which boasts a 24-1 record according to latest information on game changer.com.