2000

11-12 year old State Tournament The state tournament will be played in Grand Junction, CO, at the Grand Mesa Little League Fields located at North Avenue and 28 3/4 Road. Map of Grand Junction. Map showing location of Grand Mesa Little League fields. Grand Junction home page. Grand Junction Sentinel. State Tournament Bracket (Acrobat). Three Rivers Little League (Carbondale) will represent District 1. North Boulder Little League (d'Cats) will represent District 2. Platte Canyon Little League ( Bailey ) will represent District 3. District 4 merged with District 2 years ago. Academy Little League (Colorado Springs) will represent District 5.
	First Game Place: Grand Junction, CO Date: Saturday, July 29th Time: 5:30 p.m. Opponent: Division 1 (Three Rivers Little League, Carbondale, CO) Results: Wildcats win 4-3, no errors. Summary: Jamie Nickerson (2 for 4 with 2 RBIs) set the tone for the evening by hitting his first pitch out over the center field fence at the Grand Mesa Little League facilities. The Cats never trailed. The North Boulder offense dominated Three Rivers, out hitting them 10 to 2, but stranded eight runners. Twice they left runners at the corners and once they left the bases loaded. Connie "Mack" O'Halloran and Andy Swan both hit doubles. Tyler Wilkinson went three innings before being relieved by Tyler Olsen(4th), Bryon Flanders(5th), and Jamie Nickerson(6th) -- who earned the save. As a team the Cats struck out seven and gave up only two hits. Wilkinson is 4-0 in tournament play. The Cats have played in the State Final each of the last three years, but this is their first opening round victory. Unofficial Score Card (Color / B&W Wildcats / B&W Three Rivers ) provided by Wallace Westfeldt. Photos: Wildcats at game opening, photo by Jennifer Ward. Nickerson strapping up, photo by Jennifer Ward. Nickerson home run, photo by Jennifer Ward. Wilkinson at the plate, photo by Jennifer Ward. Connie Mack at the plate, photo by Jennifer Ward. Wilkinson hits ball with bat, photo by Jennifer Ward.
	Second Game Place: Grand Junction, CO Date: Sunday, July 30th Time: 7:30 p.m. Opponent: Academy Little League Results: Wildcats win 3-1, 2 errors. Summary: The long-ball has played a big role for the Wildcats throughout this year's tounament play. Tonight's game, however, redefined "big" to "monumental". Academy Little League battled the Cats in a scoreless contest until the 6th and final inning. That's when Tyler Olsen stepped up to the plate. Under the lights, the ball looked like a small moon as it soared over the fence. Jamie Nickerson was on base -- Cats 2, Academy 0. The Cats scored once more in the inning on a double by Nathan Sheidenhelm followed by a two bagger by Miguel Garibay. Tyler Olsen pitched five stellar innings -- sriking out nine and giving up two hits. He was relieved by Jamie Nickerson in the bottom of the sixth who got his third save in post season. See ya Tuesday. Unofficial Score Card (Color / B&W Wildcats / B&W Academy ) provided by Wallace Westfeldt. Photos: Jamie in relief, photo by Jennifer Ward. Jamie in relief, photo by Jennifer Ward. Victory chant, photo by Jennifer Ward.
	Third Game -- Colorado State Final Place: Grand Junction, CO Date: Tuesday, August 1st Time: 7:00 p.m. Opponent: Academy Little League Results: Wildcats lose 5-6. Summary: This one started off with a bang. Tyler Olsen parked one in the first inning with Wilkinson and Nickerson on base. Academy answered with their own three run homer late in game. Wednesday, its for all the marbles. Unofficial Score Card (Color / B&W Wildcats / B&W Academy ) provided by Wallace Westfeldt. Photos: Dennis to Jamie, "We need a double." Jamie hits a double
	Fourth Game -- Colorado State Final Final Place: Grand Junction, CO Date: Wednesday, August 2nd Time: 7:00 p.m. Opponent: Academy Little League Results: Wildcats win 5-9. Summary: New heroes were made tonight in Grand Junction, Colorado. In the fourth inning, with the Cats trailing 5-4, Matt Kawulok stepped up to the mound for the first time in tournament play. The Academy all stars didn't score again this season. The Cats, however, did plenty of their own. Miguel Gariby and Nathan Sheidenhelm both hit monster home runs. Miguel also turned in the defensive gem of the game when he fielded a sharp grounder to third with runners on second and third. Miguel gave the runner at third a stern "you stay!" look, then made a perfect throw to first base for the out. The 2, 3 and 4 batters contributed ten hits. Tyler Wilkinson, hitting second went 3-4, Jamie Nickerson, hitting third went 3-4, and Tyler Olsen, hitting fourth went 4-4. After coming in second in state for two years in a row, these kids are now traveling to San Bernardino to represent their home state in the Western Regional Tournament. News Coverage: Boulder Daily Camera Unofficial Score Card (Color / B&W Wildcats / B&W Academy ) provided by Wallace Westfeldt. Movie: "Hey, Cats, now that you've won the state title, what's next?" Unofficial Score Card (Color / B&W Wildcats / B&W Three Rivers ) provided by Wallace Westfeldt. Photos: Nate Westfelt scores the tying run. Welcome home Miguel!
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