Grady, Elfrink claim state titles

Randall Grady has been playing competitive horseshoes for about 20 years and in that time he's had his share of success.

Grady, however, didn't know if he was ever going to be able to bring home a state title.

"Missouri has so many good players, it's hard to win it," he said.

But win it Grady did. The resident of Benton, Mo., was recently crowned the state's top men's player as he finished first in the highest class -- championship -- at the Missouri State Horseshoe Pitching Championships in St. Joseph.

And this area had another state champion during the event as Tyler Elfrink captured the junior title. Elfrink, 14, is from Leopold, Mo.

For the 48-year-old Grady, who works as a construction inspector for the Missouri Department of Transportation, bringing home the state crown was simply a matter of playing well and keeping his composure.

"It just came together that weekend," he said. "I just pitched well when I needed to. I didn't get too nervous and throw games away like I do sometimes."

After finishing second in the state two years ago -- and competing in the championship class at the Missouri event for the past eight years -- Grady said finally breaking through and placing first was quite a thrill.

"It really was," he said. "It's something I didn't know would ever happen, but I'm glad it did."

And Grady hopes it happens again because he'd like more than one title.

"I'm certainly hoping to win another one," he said.

Elfrink caps big year

It has certainly been quite a year of pitching horseshoes for Tyler Elfrink, a freshman at Leopold High School.

First Elfrink qualified for the World Horseshoe Pitching Tournament in Minnesota in early August and then he followed up that accomplishment with his state title.

Finishing well in the state meet is nothing new for Elfrink, who captured the junior championship in 1999 and finished second in both 1998 and 2000.