The Cimarron River Rattlers 10 and under team competed in the Dodge City Wild West Showdown and went undefeated to earn the championship.  The Rattlers defeated the DC Young Guns (14-3), SW Hitters (12-2), the DC Young Guns (15-4), and in the championship defeated the SW Hitters (9-2)

Team members are, front row from left, Rodney Pando, Brody Sumner, Ulises Rivera, Evan Bayouth, James Armstrong, and back row from left, Braxton Hyde, Syris Dunlap, Aiden Pittman, Hunter Hatcher and Lee Hatcher. Coaches are Brandon Hyde, Jim Armstrong and Jim Pittman.  Not pictured are Ericson Vasquez, Hunter Carson and coach Chuck Sumner.

“The boys continue to get better each week to prepare for District and State,” Coach Hyde said. “The SW Hitters pitcher in the championship game was the best we’ve seen in the past three years, and we had to step up and compete.  He was not there on Saturday and we really were not expecting that to start the game, but the boys took that challenge and really stepped up.”

The Rattlers will head to Hays next week to play in their NBC Featured Tournament before taking a week off.  District play will start July 6 in Cimarron and the Rattlers will host State at Rosel Field July 13-16. Courtesy photo