The Crook County Seniors youth baseball team won the state championship Sunday, June 30, and has advanced to the Western Regionals, which will be held July 17-23 in Oakland, California.
Crook County defeated Del Norte, California, 9-5 Sunday afternoon in Madras to win the Oregon State Championship. The two teams had met in the championship game a year ago, but the results were reversed.
“This feels amazing," said starting first baseman Kolton Martinez. “Last year they really stomped on our throats. We came out relaxed and they really took it to us. When they scored two in the first inning today it was a little nerve wracking, but we brought the intensity up and brought it right back at them.”
Although it is not a true double elimination tournament, teams in the losers bracket have an opportunity to come back and win the state title. However, once in the championship game it is winner take all, so if the team from the losers bracket wins the game the tournament is over although both teams have one loss.
That is what happened to the Cowboys a year ago. They rolled through the tournament undefeated, including a victory over Del Norte, then lost in the championship game to the team from Crescent City. Crook County fans grumbled that there wasn't a final game since the two teams had split their previous two meetings. This time it was Del Norte fans that were grumbling as Del Norte had defeated Crook County 2-1 earlier in the tournament. Crook County came back through the losers bracket with a win over Klamath Falls to reach the championship, then pounded the ball when it mattered against the defending champions.
“Dude, it felt amazing because last year we were in the winning bracket and we lost the championship, so we turned the tables on them this year,” centerfielder Uriah Yustat said. “Our mindset really changed after last year. We really wanted to come at them with all we had and we really wanted to bring it to them.”
It wasn't easy for the Cowboys as Del Norte showed why they were the defending champions, jumping on top with a pair of runs in the first inning. Starting pitcher Carson Wilkins stuck out the first two batters he faced, but then gave up a triple, a single and a double in the inning.
Wilkins was dominant in the second inning, though, striking out the side. Crook County closed to within a run in the second inning as Wilkins started things off with a single. Luke Holland entered the game to run for Wilkins and moved to second when Carter Mcada walked. Holland then stole third, then went home on a failed pickoff attempt at first. However, that was the only run the Cowboys would get in the inning as Del Norte's pitcher struck out the next two batters he faced.
Crook County seemingly took control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Starting catcher Mason McKenzie doubled to open the inning, but then got caught in a rundown between second and third on a ball hit to third base by Russell Riggin. Riggin was safe at first, but McKenzie was eventually tagged out. Yustat then reached base on a throwing error by Del Norte's shortstop, while a hustling Riggins went all the way around the bases and scored and Yustat raced to third. A single by Wilkins scored Yustat. Carter Mcada then singled to keep the rally going before Martinez doubled to score both Wilkins and Mcada.
That's the way the game stayed until the fifth inning. Then Del Norte rallied, scoring three runs on three singles, a double and a hit batter to tie the game at 5-5.
However, it didn't take long for Crook County to respond. With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Yustat walked, Wilkins singled, Mcada singled and Martinez reached base on an error as a run scored. Logan Griffin then smashed a huge three-run doubled to left. The Cowboys might have gotten even more runs in the inning, but Griffin was called out on a close play at home to end the inning.
Yustat replaced Wilkins on the mound to start the sixth inning and did not allow a run in two innings of work. However, that does not mean things were easy for the Cowboys. Del Norte put runners on second and third in the sixth before Yustat was able to pitch his way out of the inning.
Wilkins struck out five and walked two while allowing eight hits in his five innings of work, while Yustat struck out three and gave up a pair of singles and an intentional walk in his two innings of work.
Meanwhile, led by Wilkins with three singles, Crook County batters finished with nine hits in the game. A major factor in the game: the Cowboys played error-free ball while Del Norte committed three errors in the game.
“It feels great,” McKenzie said of the win. “Last year was a big upset, but we really got them this year. I feel like our defense is very good and also our hitting.”
The Cowboys have some time to practice before heading to Oakland and McKenzie said that they are going to make the most of that time.
“We just have to work harder in practice and just get better,” he said.
Martinez agreed.
“I think if we play like we did today we can beat any team,” he added. “We just need to have our faith in God and keep working as a team and I think we will be good. We are going to work our butts off and bring it to them.”
Now, it's on to Oakland for the Cowboys.
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