文章基本信息

标题：Pittsburg man top pitcher
作者：Tom Allen Capital-Journal
期刊名称：The Topeka Capital-Journal
印刷版ISSN：1067-1994
出版年度：2003
卷号：Jul 20, 2003
出版社：Morris Multimedia, Inc.

Pittsburg man top pitcher

Tom Allen Capital-Journal

ANTHONY S. BUSH/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Bernie VanLerberg pitches a shoe during Saturday's Sunflower State Games horseshoe pitching competition at Gage Park.

By Tom Allen

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The weather Saturday at the horseshoe pitching competition for the Sunflower State Games was warm, but the players didn't show it.

Merlin Potts, a 23-time Kansas state horseshoe pitching champion and last year's Championship Class winner at the Games, was unable to defend his title due to hip problems. Although disappointed, the Leonardsville native couldn't stay away from the event.

"I would love to pitch, but since I can't, I still enjoying watching," Potts said.

With Potts out of the competition, the Games were decided by Melvin Bray and Bernie VanLerberg, last year's second-place winner.

Bray, who traveled from Pittsburg, entered this year as a first- time Sunflower State Games competitor. Considered one of the best players in the country, Bray looked forward to competing against Potts.

"Merlin is the best player around," Bray said.

Bray said the Games were a good practice for him before traveling to Wisconsin in August to compete in the World Horseshoe Pitching Championships. He showed the caliber of player he is, winning the gold medal with a 4-0 record and a 67.57 ringer percentage.

VanLerberg, secretary for the Kansas Horseshoe Pitchers Association, finished second again. He finished with a record of 3-1 and a ringer percentage of 67.02.

"I was really impressed with how well the new people pitched this morning," he said.

Bret Vogel, the fifth-place winner from last year, improved on his play with a fourth-place finish. Vogel has been a member of the Kansas Horseshoe Pitchers Association for the past three years after moving to Wichita from Texas. The championship was decided in the last game of the championship class between Vogel and Bray.

If Vogel won the game, Bray and VanLerberg would have played a tiebreaker. This wasn't needed as Bray won the game in 80 horseshoes.

The horseshoe court at Gage Park was recently remodeled and was in good condition for the competition. The court is used by the Topeka Horseshoe Association, which meets every Wednesday evening at 5:45. Anyone interested in playing with the club can get more information at topekahorseshoe.com.