Elder Krause Reclaims Pit Spitting Title

Rick "Pellet Gun" Krause has reclaimed family bragging rights.

Krause on Saturday took home his 13th championship at the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship in southwestern Michigan, an event his family has dominated in recent years.

Krause, of Tuba City, Ariz., also knocked off his son, power spitter Brian "Young Gun" Krause, who had won the previous four years and currently holds the Guinness World Record after spitting a pit 93 feet, 6 1/2 inches in 2003.

The 52-year-old also celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary with wife Marlene, whom he married at the event in 1996.

Krause's winning spit was 67 feet, 5 inches. Bart Pierce took second at 44 feet, 5 inches and Keith Roush placed third at 43 feet, 8 inches.

Brian Krause, 28, struggled at the 33rd annual competition held at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm, propelling a pit just 33 feet, 5 inches.

Pit-spitters had to battle gusty winds during the competition, event coordinator Lynne Sage said.

Alexis Haimbaugh, 14, was the top woman spitter at 41 feet.

Two of "Young Gun" Krause's sons carried on the family's winning tradition. Cole Krause won the 5 and younger category with a 20 foot, 3 inch spit, and Braden Krause won the age 6 to 8 division with a distance of 31 feet, 7 inches.

Alexis Teichman won the 9 to 12 age group with a 31-foot, 7-inch spit.

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On the Net:

Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm, http://www.tree-mendus.com/