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BAXTER SPRINGS —
Girard 9-10 All-Stars head coach Justin Tucker told shortstop Taylor Bruning this after Bruning hit a foul ball, “Good cut, Taylor. You’re right on that ball.”
Right on the ball would precisely describe the night Bruning had in the Kansas State Little League championship game Monday night against Riverton as his 3-for-3 offensive night helped lead Girard to a 11-3 win and the state title.
Bruning singled in the first, doubled in the second, doubled in the fourth and walked in the fifth.
On his single, he advanced to second on an errant throw and on his walk, he proved an effective run-producer even when not hitting the ball as his walk came with the bases loaded. His double in the second plated Caleb Muia and Heston Kavanaugh for a 5-3 lead and his double in the fourth scored Muia — Kavanaugh scored on the throw into second base. Bruning drove in four and scored three runs.
Girard pitcher Davis Davenport struggled at times with his control in the first two innings of the contest but he pitched his way out of a pair of a jams and gave up no more runs before exiting the mound in the fifth. He walked four — all in the first two innings — and struck out seven, including two in the first, three in the second and two in the fourth. Caden Lallemand relieved Davenport in the fifth and continued the scoreless streak.
Meanwhile, the Girard offense put together its critical rallies in the second and fourth innings — eight runs on five hits and two Riverton errors.
The impressive aspect of the five runs scored in the second was that all five were scored with two outs. Gabe Muia and Rigby Born drew consecutive walks and Caleb Muia legged out an infield single, plating Gabe Muia. Kavanaugh reached on a Riverton error — what could have easily been the last out — and then Bruning hit that huge go-ahead two-run double. Bruning would score on a Evan Troike RBI double not long after Bruning settled into second base.
With one down in the fourth, Caleb Muia reached on an error and Kavanaugh singled, once again setting up Bruning with runners on. Caleb Muia and Kavanaugh would both score one way or another on the Bruning hit and then Bruning came home on a wild pitch, sliding into home after Lallemand took ball four after being down in the count 0-2.
Girard 9-10 All-Stars head coach Justin Tucker told shortstop Taylor Bruning this after Bruning hit a foul ball, “Good cut, Taylor. You’re right on that ball.”
Right on the ball would precisely describe the night Bruning had in the Kansas State Little League championship game Monday night against Riverton as his 3-for-3 offensive night helped lead Girard to a 11-3 win and the state title.
Bruning singled in the first, doubled in the second, doubled in the fourth and walked in the fifth.
On his single, he advanced to second on an errant throw and on his walk, he proved an effective run-producer even when not hitting the ball as his walk came with the bases loaded. His double in the second plated Caleb Muia and Heston Kavanaugh for a 5-3 lead and his double in the fourth scored Muia — Kavanaugh scored on the throw into second base. Bruning drove in four and scored three runs.
Girard pitcher Davis Davenport struggled at times with his control in the first two innings of the contest but he pitched his way out of a pair of a jams and gave up no more runs before exiting the mound in the fifth. He walked four — all in the first two innings — and struck out seven, including two in the first, three in the second and two in the fourth. Caden Lallemand relieved Davenport in the fifth and continued the scoreless streak.
Meanwhile, the Girard offense put together its critical rallies in the second and fourth innings — eight runs on five hits and two Riverton errors.
The impressive aspect of the five runs scored in the second was that all five were scored with two outs. Gabe Muia and Rigby Born drew consecutive walks and Caleb Muia legged out an infield single, plating Gabe Muia. Kavanaugh reached on a Riverton error — what could have easily been the last out — and then Bruning hit that huge go-ahead two-run double. Bruning would score on a Evan Troike RBI double not long after Bruning settled into second base.
With one down in the fourth, Caleb Muia reached on an error and Kavanaugh singled, once again setting up Bruning with runners on. Caleb Muia and Kavanaugh would both score one way or another on the Bruning hit and then Bruning came home on a wild pitch, sliding into home after Lallemand took ball four after being down in the count 0-2.
Girard and Riverton played three times in a week — playing the first game and the final game of the state tournament in Baxter Springs. Riverton won the first game, then Girard won the next two with the state title at stake. Girard won four straight games facing elimination.
Bruning, Troike, Caleb Muia and Wesley Jahay all played on the Girard 9-10 team which took state last year. All four players end their duration in the 9-10 age bracket with back-to-back state titles.
Girard won state titles in both divisions of Kansas Little League and the 11-12 team will represent Kansas at the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis.
