Bar Nunn Bruins conquer Colorado tourney

by Elysia Conner
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:47 PM MDT

The Bar Nunn Bruins of the Bar Nunn Baseball Club won eight games in a row and became the USSSA 14A Colorado State Champions at the tournament in Greeley on July 12-13.

The 14 and under team was invited to the World Series in Arkansas, although they did not attend because of time constraints.

Bruins coach Bob Schoonover said that each member of the team has worked hard this year. He is proud of them for the dedication it took to travel about twice a week to play tournaments.

“We finally put it all together,” Schoonover said about the winning streak. The Bruins finished their season with a record of 28-16.

The Bruins beat the Columbine Yankees 11-3 and the Chatfield Thunderbolts 12-5, earning the number one seed out of 13 teams on the first day of the tournament.

Trevor Fink and Chris Haley were the winning pitchers, respectively, for the first day’s games. Taylor Cool provided two homeruns and five RBIs in the game against Chatfield.

The game against the Eastern Colorado Cobras on July 13 was memorable, with a 7-1 win for the Bruins.

Winning pitcher Jon Robinson started the game. Haley hit his first ever homerun, a grand slam, as well as four RBIs and one run in that game.

Another first for the weekend was Garrett Thorsen singling his first batter in for the year in a game against the Front Range Spitfire.

Fink and Dayne Lubenow each had two hits in that game, while Lubenow and Karch scored a run apiece in the top of the seventh to break a 6-6 tie for an 8-6 win.

Haley was the winning pitcher in relief.

In a 5-4 win against the Elizabeth (Colo.) Cardinals, Karch hit a double and two runs, and Cool hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh.

Jeremy Dixon went three for three, and Robinson was the winning pitcher in relief.

“They were hitting homeruns like crazy,” Schoonover said about the team’s performance at the state tournament.

Other highlights from the weekend included solo homeruns from Alec Britt, Karch and Lubenow.

“We went everything but 5-0 in all the other tournaments, so it feels really good,” Karch said.

He added that the Bruins have had their ups and downs over the season, but that his team is good, especially in offense.

He also has confidence is his coaches.

“They know what they are talking about; you can learn so much in a week,” Karch said.

Fink also is happy that the Bruins played so well when it really counted, after going to the semi-finals and losing.

He said the entire season was a good time. “It was just fun, traveling and seeing new places,” he said.

The young men agreed that the traveling was tiring at times, but that they had a great time on road trips together.

“Now that it’s over, it seems kind of boring,” said Karch, who looks forward to playing next year.

Haley said hitting his first homerun felt great, and he also looks forward to more next season.

According to Schoonover, a baseball group of this type in Bar Nunn has not been attempted in more than 12 years. Without the parents’ support over the year, the success of the Bar Nunn Baseball Club would not have been possible, he said.

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