All three Northeast Nebraska Crush youth baseball teams were in action with games between July 2 - 7.
Crush 11u crowned USSA AAA state champion
After securing three wins over two days (July 5 - 6) in Valley, the Northeast Nebraska Crush 11u youth baseball team continued their success into July 7.
From the Sandhills Global Youth Complex in Lincoln, the Crush were two wins away from winning Bracket 'A'.
Crush 11u began the afternoon with a 9-3 win against Fremont Nighthawks 11u followed by an 8-0 championship result over Nebraska Prospects 2023 11u.
The Crush end their season as the Nebraska USSSA 'AAA' State Tournament champions in Bracket A with a 26-8 record.
Ryan Dunklau has coached youth sports for six years. Crush 11u were made up of Wayne, Wakefield, Pierce and Battle Creek.
"Most of the boys have been playing together for three if not four years now," said Dunklau. "We have a couple different players every year. But, these boys get along well. Playing for your “brother” to your left and right is a big part of how we are successful."
During the first game, Brock Hansen singled twice, doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice; Cohen Woehler singled twice, doubled and scored twice; Julian Contreras singled twice, drove in two runs and scored as Kase Brester singled twice and drove in a run. Wyatt Dunklau also doubled and drove in two runs.
Kash Koch singled and scored; Barrett Hanson accounted for a RBI as Becker Ekberg scored twice.
Brester (71 pitches) picked up the win in five innings allowing three runs (two earned) off three hits while striking out seven batters and walking one. Dunklau (16) closed out the final inning striking out two batters and walking one.
Crush 11u played five games in three days and were challenged with pitching limitations. Each player that was asked to step on the bump trusted themselves and their teammates. They went out and showed heart and gave their team a chance to win.
"Baseball is a game of adversity," Dunklau added. "That is what makes it a fun sport. Learning to fail is a huge part of playing the game. The boys have really matured in those regards."
From the finals, Brester tripled, drove in a run and scored as Koch singled twice, drove in two runs and scored.
Ekberg and Woehler both singled and scored twice; Contreras singled and scored; Barrett Hanson accounted for a RBI and run scored as Brock Hansen, Dunklau and Cruz Andrade both added a RBI.
Ekberg (35 pitches) picked up the win in three innings striking out four batters and walking one. Dunklau (13) closed out the final inning allowing one hit while striking out two batters.
"Every team that has success leans on a handful of boys that fill up the stat page," Dunklau mentioned. "We have a bunch of boys that can play at a high level. The best part is when one boy maybe didn’t have a great day someone else stepped up to help there team."
Coach Dunklau closed with..."leaders are a huge part of what is being built with this team. You don’t have success without them. I’m not going to name boys, they know who they are and know how proud I am of them."
Crush 11u punch ticket to semifinals of state tourney
While the younger Northeast Nebraska Crush youth baseball team went 2-1 over the weekend, Crush 11u also took to the diamond and continued their July 5 - 6 games into weekday action.
From Valley, Crush 11u competed in the Nebraska USSSA 'AAA' State Tourney.
The Crush 11u youth baseball team won both of their pool play games on July 5 with wins of 10-3 over Fort Calhoun Pioneers 11u and 11-2 against Fremont Nighthawks 11u.
The Crush then began bracket competition with a 7-4 victory over USA Prime Prodigy United 11u on July 6 back at the EAA Sports Complex in Valley.
Leaders through the weekend were Brock Hansen with five hits (three singles, two doubles) followed by Becker Ekberg (two singles, one double) and Kase Brester (two singles, one triple) both with three hits. Brock Hansen posted a team-high six RBI as Cruz Andrade and Wyatt Dunklau both tallied three runs batted in. Ekberg crossed the plate seven times while Andrade added four runs scored.
Ekberg (62 pitches) pitched five innings of the 16 total innings through the weekend appearing in two games and starting one. He allowed three hits while striking out nine batters and hitting one.
Crush 11u (26-8) started July 7 with a 9-3 victory over Fremont Nighthawks 11u in the semifinal round before advancing to the finals and winning 8-0 against the Nebraska Prospects 2032.
Crush 11u was crowned Nebraska USSSA 'AAA' State Tournament championships in Bracket A.
Crush 8u fall in state tourney quarterfinal
A 30-game schedule concluded for the younger Northeast Nebraska Crush youth baseball team with Nebraska USSSA 'AAA' State Tournament competition.
Crush 8u started their weekend in La Vista.
The Crush 8u youth baseball team won both their pool play games on July 5 of 11-1 over York Knights 8u and 9-0 against Jr Cougars 8u.
Back at the Nebraska Musltisport Complex in La Vista for the top 12 teams in Bracket 'A', the Crush then suffered a July 6 loss of 13-0 to Millard Elite 8u to end their season at 22-8.
Leaders were Kannon Kalin with four hits (three singles, one double); Titus Hansen posted a team-high five RBI as Kalin also led the team in runs scored with four.
Luke Williamson (82 pitches) pitched three and a third of the 13 total innings appearing in two games and starting one. He allowed five earned runs off six hits while striking out four batters and walking seven.
Ethen Valenzuela (41) worked an inning and a third appearing in two games. He allowed two earned runs off two hits while striking out four batters and walking three.
The Northeast Nebraska Crush 10u youth baseball team will compete in the Nebraska USSSA AA State Tournament starting Friday, July 11. The Crush (21-6-2) will open pool play against Omaha Tigers White 10u at 8 a.m. along with Suburban Stampede Black 10u at 12:30 p.m. Games will be played at Gretna Cross Park.
Crush 10u close regular season with home loss
After nearly two weeks off from competition, the Northeast Nebraska Crush 10u youth baseball team played a single home game on July 2.
From the Summer Sports Complex, the Crush entertained Vermillion Tanagers 10u.
Crush 10u suffered a 4-2 loss to close out their regular season at 21-6-2.
Both teams were tied at 2-2 in the first inning followed by single runs in each of the second and third innings by Vermillion. The Tanagers outhit Crush 10u, 10-4.
Maxx Wohlers singled twice while Thomas Plager singled and drove in two runs.
Ty Wittler singled as Adrian Zarate and Kyson Garcia both scored.
Garcia (43 pitches) started the opening inning and two-thirds allowing two earned runs off six hits while striking out four batters and walking one.
Ryan Magnuson (44) worked two innings allowing an earned run off three hits while striking out four batters and walking two. Kyler Wiebelhaus (30) closed out the final two innings allowing one hit while walking one batter.
The Northeast Nebraska Crush 10u youth baseball team will next open state competition on Friday, July 11 against Omaha Tigers White 10u at 8 a.m. along with Suburban Stampede Black 10u at 12:30 p.m. The Nebraska USSA AA State Tournament will be held in Omaha July 11 - 13.
