The 14U Kansas Rebels finished their 2007 campaign with a strong showing at the 14U AAA United States Specialties Sports Association baseball World Series July 16-22 in St. Louis. Pictured front row from left: Ross Johnson, Nick Prolago, Kyle Pattrick, Preston Schenck and Jonathan Pederson. Back row: Danny Sader, coach Rod Sharp, Colin Toalson, Landon Ausherman, Justin Vander Tuig, Cody Amerine, Coach Paul Vander Tuig and Troy Willoughby. Not Pictured: Coach Mike Pattrick, Josh Hoffman, Nate Growcock.

The 14U Kansas Rebels finished out their season with a strong showing at the 14U AAA United States Sports Specialties Association baseball World Series July 16-22 at Fountain Lake Sports Complex. The tournament featured the top teams from 12 states.

The Kansas Rebels began the tournament by going 2-1 in pool play. They defeated the Greater Aurora (Ill.) Eagles, 5-0, lost to the 2007 Kansas state champion Topeka Outlaws, 7-4, and then defeated the Springfield (Ohio) Stix, 11-4.

Seeded No. 11 after pool play, the Rebels beat the Fulton (Mo.) Hornets 5-4,

lost to the Central Ohio Sharks (the 2007 World Series champions) 7-4, and defeated the Sandlot Sluggers (Ark.) 10-4. They moved on to score a victory against the St. Louis Midwest Knights, before losing to the Kansas Gators, 9-1. In all the Rebels went 5-3 during the double elimination tournament with two of their three losses coming at the hands of the eventual first- and fourth-place teams in the tournament.

The Rebels entered the series as the 25th seed, advanced through play until Saturday and made a great run to end the season. Only one Kansas team of the eight entered finished higher than the Rebels at the tournament.

The team finished its season with a record of 35-16.

“We were pleased that we were able to represent Lawrence and the state of Kansas in a positive way and play through until Saturday,” said coach Rod Sharp. “We really played our best ball of the season at the World Series in St. Louis. Finishing in the top 10 in a tournament featuring the teams we saw play is a great testament to the kids we had on this team. They got better all season and rallied tough this last week. I’m very proud of them, and I know their parents are too.”