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SPORTS
C-K boys bounce back from controversial loss
Barboursville and Ceredo-Kenova battle it out in the West Virginia District 1 9-10 year-old Little League Baseball all-star championship game Friday, June 27, 2008, at Mitch Stadium.
Purchase this photoCEREDO-KENOVA -- Controversy in sports occurs at all levels, but Friday night's game between the 9-10 year-old Ceredo-Kenova and Barboursville all-star baseball teams at Mitch Stadium will be talked about for some time.
With the District 1 championship on the line, both teams turned in big-time performances, leaving it all on the field. But one call sparked the emotions of the players and caused the actions of fans in the stands to get out of control.
Ceredo-Kenova threw Barboursville's Chase McKinney out at first for what was thought to be the game's final out. C-K began celebrating its 10-8 come-from-behind-win, when the umpires signaled for players and coaches to retake the field.
Catcher's interference was called and the game took a controversial turn. Parents in the stands were irate at the call and began yelling and pleading their cases for several minutes.
Several people were tossed out of the park and the police were called to restore order.
Once everything calmed the teams resumed the game. Since McKinney was awarded first base, the Pirates also were credited with a run that crossed the plate.
With two outs on the board Barboursville's offense kicked it into high gear and scored four runs to take a 13-10 lead.
Andrew Petry produced the game's biggest hit for the Pirates, allowing two runners to score. Petry went 3-for-5 on the night, with a crucial four RBIs.
C-K had more more chance in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Wonders could only squeeze out one more run. The game ended with Barboursville winning, 13-11.
With the win, Barboursville claimed the District 1 title and earned a berth in the state tournament at Logan.
Meanwhile, C-K had one more chance on Saturday morning to earn an invitation to the state tournament if the team could knock off a solid Mason County squad.
C-K had to quickly forget about a loss that they celebrated for practically five minutes as a win. But, one opportunity already had slipped past C-K and they weren't about to let another one elude them.
Things looked shaky in the top of the third inning with Mason County holding a 4-0 lead. But just like in the Barboursville game, the C-K Wonders rallied and put themselves right back in the game.
In the bottom of the third inning C-K's offense erupted for six runs.
After another exhausting six-inning battle, C-K finally tasted victory, 9-7. And this time the game wouldn't be overturned.
"The kids were emotionally drained this morning, but they came together as a team and battled their hearts out in the bottom of the third inning," C-K coach Chad Baumgardener said. "It just shows how much character we have and I thought the kids really pulled through."
The win clinched a berth in the state tournament for a C-K group that just wouldn't quit.
