Lincoln youth team turns triple play to win state title
Little kids dream about clinching a championship with a walk-off homer.
Not many kids fantasize about winning a championship the way the Lincoln Cyclones won the USSSA 12-and-Under AA State Baseball Tournament. Because it’s hard to even fathom winning with a triple play.
Yes, you read that correctly. The Cyclones, with a 15-14 lead, ended the game and clinched a state championship Sunday with a 6-5-4 triple play against the Grand Island Riverdogs in Beatrice.
Who knows? They may have clinched the ESPY for play of the year.
The Cyclones, seeded sixth among the eight teams to advance to bracket play, played two games earlier in the day and came from behind in both.
Friday in pool play, the Cyclones themselves had a rally killed by a triple play.
Cyclone coach Bob Duren was amazed with how his kids were so prepared and alert at the end of a long tournament.
“To see them in the dugout before we took the lead and before that inning, they could hardly get themselves up, they were all so tired,” Duren said. “They all fought so hard in the heat of the day. You know how when kids get tired, they lose their focus and to have them keep their focus and make this play is incredible.”
The play caused a 180-degree shift in emotion for the Cyclones.
In the top of the sixth and final inning, the Cyclones scored four runs to take a 15-13 lead. The Riverdogs scored once in the bottom of the inning and had the bases loaded with no outs.
Pitcher Alex Utrup threw a fastball to the next batter, who hit a low, sharp line drive to shortstop Brandon Utrup, Alex’s twin brother.
Brandon caught the ball just before it hit the ground. The Riverdog runners had started to run on the contact, and Brandon acted fast.
“My first move was to go to third base so that I could get the lead runner out,” Brandon said.
Third baseman Mason Tyrrell got the ball and stepped on the bag for the second out. At that time, people were still a little bewildered.
“I think they thought Brandon scooped it off the ground,” Tyrrell said. “I did, too, because it was pretty hard to see at my angle. I just saw everybody pointing to second, so I threw it.”
Second baseman Tanner Zeutzius caught the ball at second to complete the improbable play.
“We knew the runners were so far off (the bases) that it was over after Brandon caught it,” Zeutzius said.
The Riverdogs were shocked and heartbroken. The Cyclones couldn’t believe what had happened.
“We just jumped up and down,” Alex Utrup said. “We were speechless, pretty much.”
The players are still in awe of what happened and said the magnitude of their feat has yet to sink in.
One thing is certain: They all agree they’re going to have trouble topping this finish.
“It is going to be pretty hard,” Zeutzius said. “I can’t think of anything that would be better.”
Reach Tommy Dahlk at 473-7431 or at tdahlk@journalstar.com.
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