Youth baseball champs crowned at Carter Park (07-11-14)

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Lions Club/Longs’
catcher Cam Noel (right) attempts to tag Myles Pizza/Eagles’ Christian Kuhlwein at home plate during a
Junior Division youth baseball championship game. (Photo: Enoch Wu/Sentinel-Tribune)

Facing a tall task of needing to win twice in as many games against the Lions Club/Long’s Cleaners team
to win the championship in Bowling Green Youth Baseball’s Junior Division, Myles Pizza/Eagles Club head
coach Rob Claypool had a simple message for his team: No pressure.
"We laid a goose egg Monday night and played one of our worst games of the year," Claypool said
following his team’s 14-1 victory in five innings in the decisive second game Thursday. "We kept
telling them, ‘There’s no pressure on you. You’re not supposed to be here, you already lost. They have
to win.’"
The Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three innings in Game 1, only to see the Lions erase that
deficit over the next three innings. The Eagles scored the go-ahead run in their 7-6 victory in the top
of the seventh on a fielder’s choice.
They carried that momentum into the second game; the Eagles scored 10 runs in the first two innings and
never looked back.
"These kids have been busting their tails all year," Claypool said. "For these guys to
have that much fun tonight, that was awesome to see."
Luke Coffman started both games on the mound for Myles Pizza, picking up the win in Game 2. He threw
three innings in each game, allowing only two runs combined. He helped himself with three RBI in the
second game.
Nathan Hart had two hits and drove in three runs in the second game for the Eagles. He picked up the save
in Game 1, and pitched the final two innings in Game 2. Christian Kuhlwein had three hits and two RBI in
the second game, and was the winning pitcher in Game 1.
For the Lions, Reece Frisch had the team’s only RBI in Game 2. In the first game, Asa Lanning had two
hits and three RBI.
Following the games, both teams remained on the field for trophy presentation. Despite the result, all
kids involved were ecstatic to receive their trophies.
"It’s just good to see the kids come out here and play their best and keep fighting," said
Lions head coach Bryan McCracken. "They kept fighting in the first game, just one hit away. It was
good to see them come out and play good baseball."

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