For the 17th time in the program’s 18-year history, the Wayne High softball team punched its ticket for the Nebraska State Softball Championships after defeating Adams Central 2-0 and 7-2 Saturday afternoon in the B-4 District Championship Series at the Wayne Sports Complex.
Wayne was outhit 4-3 in the opener, but made the most of their opportunities. Tori Kniesche belted the first pitch she saw well over the center field fence in the first inning, and Brooklyn Kruse doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the second.
That’s all Kniesche would need, as she scattered four hits while striking out 13 and walking one to lead Wayne to the first-game win.
In the second game, coach Rob Sweetland moved Kniesche up to the leadoff spot after she was intentionally walked in each of her ensuing at bats after the first-inning homer. The move paid off as Kniesche was intentionally walked to start the game and Kendall Dorey followed with a two-run homer. Hope O’Reilly followed with an RBI double to put Wayne up 3-0 and never looked back.
Wayne added another run in the second on an RBI single by O’Reilly, put up another run in the sixth when Dorey stole home on a pickoff attempt, then scored the final two runs when Virginia Kniesche slapped a two-run single up the middle in the top of the seventh.
Tori Kniesche threw another solid game, striking out 13 while allowing two hits and one walk.
The Blue Devils will take a 30-3 record into the Class B division of the Nebraska State Softball Championships that start Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Smith Softball Complex in Hastings. Their opponent will be announced later.
