Area player tops Busch youth baseball event

At age 10, Ethan Essner of Kelso, Mo., has spent more time on the field at Busch Stadium than most players toiling in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Essner, who plays baseball for the Kelso Cardinals, recently made his second Busch Stadium appearance at the Pepsi Pitch, Hit & Run Competition. As he did on two previous stops in this year's competition, the fifth-grader-to-be at St. Augustine in Kelso, Mo., came away a winner in the 9-10 division. He beat four other competitors at Busch Stadium, but fell short of making the top four spots nationally in his age division, which would have qualified him for the finals at the All-Star Game in Milwaukee. Regional finals were held in all 30 major league ballparks.

But the finish improved upon his second place as an 8-year-old in the 7-8 division two years ago.

Essner, a pitcher, shortstop and center fielder for his Cardinals, was one of two local participants at Busch Stadium. Clint Heuer, 8, of Cape Girardeau finished second in the competition.

Taking the first step

The road to Busch Stadium started in May when area competition was held at Shawnee Sports Complex in Cape Girardeau with 25 participants in four age divisions. In the pitching portion, competitors took six throws at a mat, which resembled a strike zone. The hitting was done off a tee and scored on a combination of distance and accuracy. In the running, participants were clocked on their time from second base to home plate.

The local overall and individual skill winners advanced to the sectional round at Ste. Genevieve, with the overall winners moving on to the finals at Busch Stadium.

Everyone at the morning competition at Busch Stadium came out a winner with a variety of gifts, including three tickets to the Cardinals-Royals game that afternoon. Cardinals relief pitcher Steve Kline also made himself available to have his picture taken with the participants. The day was topped off with a 5-3 Cardinal victory.

Essner is the son of Ralph and Donna Essner.

Heuer, who will be in fourth grade at West Lane Elementary in Jackson, Mo., is the son of Jeff and Sara Heuer.